Jammu: Ahead of the forthcoming parliamentary and assembly elections, the ruling National Conference (NC) has reiterated its demand for “autonomy” for Jammu and Kashmir, and revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the state.
The National Conference took its stand on the two key issues during its two-day working commitee meet, which concluded here yesterday. It did not, however, take any decision on the pre-poll alliance with the Congress, with which it shares power in the state.
On pre-poll alliance with the Congress for parliamentary and assembly elections, the working committee resolved “to take a decision on the issue at an appropriate time”.
The committee meeting, presided over by NC President and federal Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah, passed a 10-point resolution which expressed “full faith and confidence in the leadership of Omar Abdullah”. Omar is the chief minister of the state and also the working president of the NC.
The working committee said: “The restoration of the autonomy continues to be the bed rock of the National Conference’s policy and agenda, and the party shall continue to strive for the honour, dignity and self-respect of the people of the state.”
The NC has been demanding greater autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir for almost two decades. It wants that areas of constitutional authority other than defence, external affairs and communications “should be restored” to Jammu and Kashmir.
The NC government then headed by Farooq Abdullah passed a resolution in the state assembly in June 2000 which was rejected by the National Democratic Alliance government.
The NC working committee also reiterated its resolve that AFSPA should be revoked in a phased manner from various parts of the state, beginning from the areas where militancy has been substantially reduced and the security apparatus is being handled by the state police and the paramilitary forces.
The party also resolved that “in the interest of sustainable peace in the region, a sustained and meaningful India-Pakistan dialogue must proceed without any impediments and that the CBMs (confidence building measures) should be further consolidated and strengthened”.
The working committee resolved that the “internal dimensions of the Kashmir issue should also be addressed through a process of dialogue with all shades of opinion which stands stalled at the moment”.
Reviewing the functioning and achievements of the NC-led coalition government with Congress since 2009, the working committee “appreciated the remarkable initiatives taken by the state government to accelerate the process of development in all the regions of the state.”
IANS
