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Farooq Abdullah: Action and Reaction

MATTERS AROUND US
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Dr. Farooq Abdullah does not seem to be hawkish on the issue but wants to remind all about his compulsions. His withdrawal of support from the NDA will not threaten the government as the NC has only four members in the lower house of federal parliament, the Lok Sabha. But he is answerable to the people in the state and that is important for him.
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THE government of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir is having trouble with the federal government despite the fact that the ruling National Conference in the state is a constituent of the multi-party National Democratic Alliance (NDA) eovernment of Mr. Atal Behari ajpayee. It will be an exaggeration to say that the state government is at loggerheads with the federal government. Their relationship is strained over ' e issue of a resolution passer y the legislature of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly urging the federal authority to grant autonomy to the state government. Prime Minister Vajpayee had initially reacted positively to the resolution in the sense that he did not rule jt out and also said that the matter could be discussed within the purview of the constitution. But there were evidently differences of opinion within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). the main party In the ruling coalition, which is also the organisation of the prime minister and several other key figures in the government including home minister L.K. Advani. Such differences stem from fears that granting autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir state may encourage several other component states, which either openly or implicitly call for greater powers for the states in the federal system. The underground or other forms of secessionist movement In some states of India apart, there is often talk for devolution of more powers to the states for healthier centrestate relationship although such a feeling has not become a big issue in the country's political milieu. There are secessionist activities in some parts of the northeastern region and there could also be ambition for more powers for the states in
the south. In these areas, the regional parties mostly dominate the politics and it is possible because of a regionalist sentiment that also originates from linguistic and cultural identity along with political reasons. But the sentiment over Jammu and Kashmir state is different betause of Its ttkdusive character. t i ;
The case of Jammu and Kashmir is different as it is the only Muslim-majority state in India and also has a complex historical background that makes it a case for discussions and debates. Whether these debates are rational or not is a different matter but it is an accepted notion that the issue has become a matter of common discussion both in and outside India. Following the differences within the components of the NDA government, mainly within the BJP, the cabinet discussed the matter and rejected the autonomy demand by the Jammu and Kashmir state assembly. This has strained the ties between the federal government and more particularly the BJP and the NC government in Srinagar. The chief minister
of the state Dr. Farooq Abdullah, son of late leader "Sher-e-Kashmlr” Sheikh Abdullah, reacted to the cabinet decision in the expected line of anger and dismay.
The immediate fallout of the decision of the Centre was a controversy within the NC whether it will be justified to continue support to the federal government as an ally of the NDA following the rejection of the demand. During this time, the mother of Farooq Abdullah. Begum Akhtar Jehan, who is otherwise a respected name in the state, died. As a gesture of
sympathy and solidarity. Prime Minister Vajpayee and two of his senior colleagues in the cabinet flew to Srinagar to pay respect to Begum Akhtar Jehan, who had associated herself with her legendary husband Sheikh Abdullah in the long struggle for the Kashmiri people. This has smoothened. to an extent, the ruffled feelings of Dr. Farooq Abdullah and his government. The two sides decided to contain the worsening signs in the ties as a sequel of the autonomy resolution and hold discussions. The talks are scheduled soon and it is expected that both the matters — NC's continuance in the NDA and the autonomy issue would come up for discussion in detail
in the talks.
11 will be Interesting to watch how the two sides deal with the matters at stake and tackle the situation resulting from the autonomy issue. Needless to say that for any federal government in India, the issue of autonomy is a difficult matter regardless of the Justifiable reasons for such a demand. Soon after the legislature of the Jammu and Kashmir state passed the resolution, there was an echo of the sentiment from some other political leaders like Prakash Singh Badal, chief minister of the Sikh-dominated
Punjab state and Prafulla Kumar Mahanta. chiel minister of Assam. Die leaders of the TDP and the DMK are also known to be in favour of greater powers for the states.
Caught in a situation like this, it is not surprising that the Indian cabinet has rejected the autonomy demand of the J&K assembly. Any Indian government. whether of the Congress or even of the United Front, would have possibly reacted broadly in the same line or with little variance depending on the ties with the NC. However, the issue of Jammu and Kashmir needs to be seen in a different context than rest of the Indian states or those who feel that they have a case for autonomy
or greater powers from the centre. The history of the state is well-known and this remains the main bone of contention between India and its regional rival Pakistan. The trouble that is going on in the state is also source of tension and concern not only in the region but also internationally. Pakistan says that the violence and other activities in the state is the indigenous outburst of the Kashmiris who are fighting for freedom from Indian rule.
On the other hand. New Delhi says that the situation is created by Pakistan by fomenting the trouble through providing arms and other facilities to the terrorists and secessionists. Islamabad says it extends only moral and political support to , the Kashmiri freedom fighters. Independent observers mostly feel that both New Delhi and Islamabad are unwilling to consider the facts. Pakistan’s assertion that it is not providing arms, training and other facilities to the Kashmiris hardly holds water. Similarly, the contention of India that the whole issue is a creation of Pakistan is not credible according to neutral observers.
Certainly. Jammu and Kashmir is a case in India that needs to be dealt differently. The very fact that article 370 of the constitution giving special status to the state is a testimony in this regard. Chief minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah said the autonomy demand should not and will not open a Pandora’s Box for other Indian states. He wants something different for his state for distinct reasons and feels that it may someday
be difficult to keep the state within Indian union unless hard feelings of the people are assuaged and the autonomy demand Is accepted. On the other hand, the hard-line Kashmiri organisations and those operating from Pakistan feel that the demand for autonomy in Kashmir initiated by Dr. Farooq Abdullah is a ploy to scuttle the possibility of separation of the state from India. Dr. Abdullah maintains that the state must remain with India but it be given extra powers and facilities.
It is difficult to anticipate what transpires in the talks between the federal government or the NDA as an alliance and the NC as a party or the J&K state government on the issue. The BJP in the state legislature had walked out from the House when the resolution piloted by the ruling NC was tabled and passed. This is an indication of the stance of the BJP. But Prime Minister Vajpayee’s initial reaction tq the resolution beprs his statesmanlike vision 'He did not reject it outright and he had kept the door open for discussion. Dr. Farooq Abdullah does not seem to be hawkish on the issue but wants to remind all about his compulsions. His withdrawal of support from the NDA will not threaten the government as the NC has only four members in the lower house of federal parliament, the Lok Sabha. But he is answerable to the people in the state and that is important for him for understood factors. The issue is complex, but still there is a need to assuage the hard feelings of the Kashmiri people, as is reflected by the chief minister of the state. It may not be prudent to categorise the state with other Indian states. A balance should be struck considering bigger interests. It is here that the wisdom lies.