NC for restoration of autonomy in J&K,Abrogation of Article 370 impossible:Rather

New Delhi/Jammu, February 14 (Scoop News) – Senior National Conference leader and the Minister for Finance A.R. Rather have said that J&K National Conference wants restoration of autonomy in its pristine form consistent with Instrument of Accession, Constitution ( Application to J&K) order, 1950 and Delhi Agreement of 1952.He said that autonomy has remained, since the days of accession, the heart beat of the people of the State.  Today we find that the State has lost all semblances to autonomy. Its erosion is the primary cause for Kashmir discontent.

Rather was speaking in 2-days "Intra Kashmir Conference" held at New Delhi today. The Conference was organized by Centre for Dialogue and Re-conciliation on the subject " Common Interests, Common Future : Dialogue Across the LoC. 

   Rather said that uniquely, Jammu and Kashmir State is the only one to have negotiated the terms of its membership of the Union. Right till the Delhi agreement of 1952, it did not accept any provisions of the constitution of India other than those agreed to in the Instrument of Accession and retained its autonomy but unfortunately even after the Constituent Assembly of the State dispersed and seized to exist, further powers continued to be extended to the Union which was against the scheme of Article 370 of the Indian constitution.

In response to query that incase the autonomy is conceded to J&K, other States may raise similar demands,  Rather said that constitution of India reflects both the unity and the diversities. Regional diversities are reflected in special provisions with respect to the States of Nagaland, Skim, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh. The State of J&K is, thus, not the only one to enjoy a special status. One fails to understand as to why fingers of suspicion are raised only against the State.  

When asked to respond to the demand of abrogation of article 370 by certain political parties,  Rather said that those who ask for abrogation of this article are grossly mistaken. The President of India could issue a notification abrogating or amending article 370 but it could only be done on the recommendation of the Constituent Assembly of the Stae. The constituent Assembly completed its job long back in 1956 and then dispersed. It did not make any recommendation for abrogation of this article. So the  abrogation of article 370 has now become a constitutionally impossible.

In response to another query that Jammu and Ladakh regions are opposed to restoration of Autonomy,  Rather said National Conference fought 1996 Assembly elections on the plank of autonomy and got the highest number of seats in all the three regions of the State. So the electorate of all the three regions endorsed National Conference’s agenda of restoration of autonomy to the State.

  He said that the erosion of autonomy began after the unfortunate and un-constitutional dismissal and arrest  of Jenab Sheikh Sahib along with his associates in 1953 and it continued apace there after till the year 1975. He said that sooner the autonomy is restored, the better. He further said that alienation of the people of the State needs to be addressed urgently. This would be in the interest of the Nation.

Those who included among the galaxy of participants and speakers included former Foreign Secretary of Pakistan, Dr. Himayaun Khan, former Pakistan High Commissioner to India,  Aziz Ahmed Khan, Chairman, Minority Commission of India,  Wajahat Habib-ullah, former Foreign Secretary of India,  Salman Haider, prominent journalists, intellectuals, lawyers, academicians from the country and from across the border.

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