PDP says no ambiguity in its stand on self-rule

Srinagar, Sep 5 (UNI) The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Jammu and Kashmir today made it clear that there were no contradictions in or outside the party on its self-rule proposal as projected, by design, in a section of media, quoting a senior leader, apparently referring to former Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baigh.

In a statement here, a PDP spokesman said the party's policy declaration on self-rule drafted by Mr Baigh in consultation with the leadership and publicised in all major newspapers on February one this year makes the stand on the issue amply clear leaving no scope for any misinterpretation.

The PDP's policy statement on self-rule proposal for Jammu and Kashmir was part of larger and broader, permanent and just, political and economic understanding and cooperation between India and Pakistan, he added.

The spokesman said the true worth and significance of the self- rule idea could be realised only in the context of ultimate resolution of the Kashmir issue. This will inevitably involve reaching of a broad-based and mutually advantageous understanding with Pakistan, he added.

In that policy statement, the spokesman said Mr Baigh has made it clear that the self-rule proposal was different from the internal autonomy slogan in three respects.

First, while the slogan of internal autonomy aimed at restoring the position back to the one that existed at the time of the arrest of late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in 1953, the self-rule proposed restoration of constitutional guarantees to the state that existed in original and undiluted form at the time of the adoption of the Article 370, he added.

Second, the spokesman said self-rule proposal entailed constitutional empowerment, not only for Kashmir, but all the three regions of the state, including Jammu and Ladakh, whereas, the slogan of internal autonomy would address only the sentiments of the Valley and a few areas outside it.

Third, the internal autonomy addresses only, and partially the constitutional and administrative relationship between Delhi and Kashmir. On the other hand, the self-rule idea aims at finding a solution of the Kashmir problem without advocating the state's accession with Pakistan or diluting India's sovereignty, he added.

The spokesman said in his address at a public rally at R S Pura in Jammu on March four this year, Mr Baigh had reiterated that the self-rule proposal would be a part of a larger package addressing both the external and internal dimensions of the Kashmir issue with the involvement of Pakistan. The autonomy proposal on the other hand only deals with the administrative relationship between the Centre and the State, Mr Baigh had added.

The former Deputy Chief Minister further stated that the intra-State federal structure with devolution of more powers to all the regions, proposed by the PDP under its self-rule package, would go a long way in the political, economic, social and cultural development of each region, fulfilling aspirations of its people.

In the same public meeting, the spokesman said Mr Baigh stated that the misconceptions created in the minds of the people in certain quarters regarding the PDP's self-rule proposal have started evaporating and after having realised its real benefits the idea is getting wider acceptance in all the regions of the state.

Even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, after getting the PDP's view point at the first round-table conference in New Delhi on February 25 this year, agreed that the self-rule could be discussed as one of the viable solutions of the Kashmir issue.

The spokesman said in the context of the deliberations in the PDP and official resolutions and memoranda being submitted at various forums, any attempt to create confusion over the party's stand on self-rule was completely misplaced.

He said Mr Baigh and Party President Mehbooba Mufti have on a number of occasions articulated their stand in unison on this issue and the PDP's view-point was already on the table as a major agenda point on the ongoing dialogue on Kashmir.

UNI AG KD GC1836