Srinagar/New Delhi, Aug. 11: The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh’s remark that restoration of greater autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir could be considered within the ambit of the Constitution nor his pledge that a solution to the state’s problems would be sought through “internal and external” dialogue and economic initiatives could not impress the separatists, his actual audience.
The separatists, reacting particularly to the Prime Minister’s job and economic packages offer, said these cannot be substitute to the right to self-determination.
Mr Syed Ali Shah Geelani said he did not see anything new in the Prime Minister’s speech. “He failed to acknowledge the real issue for which Kashmiris have taken to streets and rendered countless sacrifices. It is not jobs or economic packages or, for that matter, so-called internal autonomy for which people are sacrificing their lives. None of these can be substitute to the promised right of self-determination,” he said.
The octogenarian separatist leader also reiterated his demand of withdrawal of troops, repeal of AFSPA and other “draconian” laws, release of political prisoners and initiating a tripartite dialogue on Kashmir with the relevant UN Security Council resolution made the basis of the discourse.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman of his faction of Hurriyat Conference, regretted that Dr Singh once again looked upon the Kashmir dispute from the prism of economics. “Kashmir is not an economic nor of providing employment to our youth. It is a political problem concerning the aspirations of Kashmiris,” he said, adding the people want the right to self-determination.
In Delhi, maintaining that it is opposed to the Prime Minister’s offer to consider autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir within the ambit of the Constitution, the main Opposition BJP on Wednesday said autonomy for the state, if it reverses the state’s integration with the country, will not be tolerated.
The party, however, said it is not opposed to giving “more powers” to the state. The BJP also criticised the Prime Minister for “reigniting” the autonomy debate and termed it “unfortunate”.
The senior BJP leader and Rajya Sabha member, Mr Ravishankar Prasad, said, “The Prime Minister will have to explain what he meant by autonomy, and with what intention he has said this. If autonomy means reversing the process of integration of Kashmir into India, then this is unacceptable to us.”
The BJP leader, Mr M. Venkaiah Naidu, said, “There cannot be autonomy within the country but there can be more powers to the state once it is agreed upon between the Centre and the state. That can be discussed.”