NEW DELHI: A separate zone for Kashmiri Pandits would be demarcated in the Valley, if necessary, 30 that they would be fully Protected, Home Minister S.B.Chavan said in the Rajya Sabha on March 1.
Expressing concern about the 3 lakh Kashmiri Pandits who have fled the Valley, he said that while the government was prepared to given them a special zone, it would be preferable if they decided where they wanted to go, “We will give them protection,” he declared, Replying to the debate on the official resolution to extend Governor’s Rule in Kashmir by another six months from March 3. Chavan announced that the Information and Broadcasting Ministry has been asked to set up a special cell to counter Pakistan’s disinformation campaign on Kashmir.
The support for India’s stand expressed recently by British Prime Minister John Major, Russian President Boris Yeltsin and German Chancellor Helmut Kohl was an indication of the country’s successful diplomatic efforts on the Kashmir issue, he said. The Home Minister said that if a solution 6 the Kashmir issue could be found, the Center was not averse to giving greater autonomy to the State, adding that the Kashmir government had been asked to submit a final proposal to solve the problem. The Center, he said, was sympathetic to the demands of districts like Ladakh and Kargil for greater autonomy.
Calling for a national consensus on the Kashmir issue, he said the Center has written to the leaders of all political parties to discuss the issue.
On the destruction of temples controversy, the Home Minister said that not more than two or three temples had been destroyed. “The BJP is trying to justify the demolition at Ayodhya (by raising this matter),” he said.
The Home Minister said he was not averse to conducting talks with militants provided they agreed to abjure violence and to abide by the Indian Constitution. However, there were so many militant organizations in the Valley that it was difficult to know with whom to conduct talks.
Ruling out the abrogation of Article 370, as demanded by the Bhartiya Janata Party, Chavan said it was not proper to make such a demand when India was fighting a proxy war with Pakistan and when militants were being supplied arms by Pakistan. Article 370 was the main link that Kashmir had with the Center, he emphasized.
Chavan assured the people of Kashmir that free and fair elections would be held in the state, and appealed to all political parties to start political activity there So that elections could be held.
Decrying the Sopore in which security forces had retaliated after two jawans were killed, Chavan said that appropriate steps would be taken on those who had indulged in Excesses.
The official resolution was adopted at the end of a two and a half hour debate. It had already been adopted in the Lok Sabha last week.
Earlier, members urged the government to take steps to enable early elections in Kashmir. Among those who spoke was former Kashmir Governor Jagmohan (nominated), former Home
Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed (JD), Dr.Subramaniam Swamy (JP), S.P.Malaviya (JDS) and K.L.Sharma (BJP).
Article extracted from this publication >> March 5, 1993
