Hizbul, NC reject PDP self rule formula in JK

Srinagar, Oct 30: The Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) and other militant and separatist organisations besides the main opposition party in the Jammu and Kashmir, the National Conference (NC) have rejected the self-rule formula of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a partner in the coalition government.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said that he was not against the theory of self-rule and what PDP feels about it, but a consensus should emerge on the issue.

However, former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who left for New York yesterday, will present the PDP's position paper on the self-rule formula as the ''final, viable and realistic solution'' to the Kashmir issue as the head of a non-official Indian delegation at the 61st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The PDP proposal encompasses three vital elements, political satisfaction, economic empowerment and fulfilling regional aspirations, to work out a final solution to the Kashmir issue with sufficient guarantees.

The Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) militant outfit described the self-rule proposal as a move to ''strengthen Indian occupation in Jammu and Kashmir''.

A spokesman of the outfit, in a statement to media organisations said any solution to the Kashmir issue within the self-rule proposal was unacceptable to the people of the state ''who had made supreme sacrifices since 1947.'' The people of Kashmir are now politically conscious to defeat such designs which will further strengthen the Indian occupation,'' he said.

Referring to Indra-Sheikh accord of 1975, he said the National Conference (NC) founder chief Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah sold sacrifices made by the people during the plebiscite movement for power when he become Chief Minister of the state with the support of Congress.

''Now Mufti wants to do the same to the present movement,'' he said assesting the people of Jammu and Kashmir and Mujahideen will resist any such attempt and will not allow this to happen at any cost.

Terming Mr Sayeed responsible for the ''genocide'' of Kashmiri youth when he was Home Minister, he said the movement cannot be hijacked in the name of roadmaps, proposals and formulas, he said.

Other militant outfits have also rejected the self-rule proposal and said that only withdrawal of Indian ''occupation'' from the Jammu and Kashmir would help to restore peace in the sub-continent.

Mr Azad said the Congress party is strongly comfortable with the PDP, but the timing of its alliance partner's theory of self-rule being strongly advocated as the basis of solution to the problem of Jammu and Kashmir was without a consensus.

''I am not against the theory of self-rule and what PDP feels about it but it (PDP) should have waited for an appropriate time, '' he said.

The PDP should wait for the working group, set up on the subject on the directions of the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the end of the second round table conference here in May this year, meeting where all the parties could express their views, he said.

Otherwise, the lines will be drawn, Mr Azad added.

Ridiculing the self-rule proposal, the opposition NC said this has been done to put hurdles on the demand for restoration of greater autonomy enjoyed by Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370. The NC leaders said that they stood committed for restoration of special status to the state which existed at the time of accession of Kashmir to India.

They said the centre should honour its part of agreement on autonomous status to the state under article 370 of the constitution, which was constantly eroded from 1953 to 1975 after putting Kashmiri leadership behind bars and termed PDP's self-rule slogan'' a hoax and an attempt to hoodwink people.'' The NC leaders alleged that Mr Sayeed was brought to power in 2002 under a ''Delhi-based conspiracy'' with sole aim to erode the remains of autonomy, Article 370 and the Delhi Agreement.

However, the PDP said self rule formula will help to resolve the Kashmir issue peacefully.

Explaining the basic structure of the self-rule concept said Article 356 should not apply to Kashmir and the Governor of the state must be a resident of the State and be elected to his post.

He said exploring the possibility of the regional federation structure was another important feature of self-rule and a consultative mechanism be evolved between the three units, Kashmir, Ladakh and Jammu, so that important issues are debated over.

''The decision people of the state take here shall be the final solution for the Kashmir problem.'' he asserted.

He underlined the need for having a separate civil service structure for the State, which in a way would do away with the Indian Administrative Service and the Indian Police Service.

Challenging the opposition NC to put forth a better proposal, he said the NC leaders, who want the Kashmir issue resolved, should say express their over opinion is or come forth with a better proposal.

UNI

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