NEW DELHI, SEPT 15
The all-party meeting on Jammu and Kashmir today decided to send a delegation of political leaders to the State to assess the ground situation but failed to agree on the issue of contentious issue of withdrawal or dilution of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
The marathon five-and-a-half hour meeting witnessed sharp differences over the AFSPA that gives sweeping powers to the armed forces with the People’s Democratic Party and National Conference demanding its revocation or partial withdrawal and parties like Bharatiya Janata Party strongly opposing it.
The meeting convened by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and attended by among others United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Bharatiya Janata Party leader L K Advani, however, was unanimous over the need for internal dialogue within the framework of the Indian Constitution.
Singh and other leaders voiced distress and concern over the continuing violence in the State and the loss of life.
Setting the tone, Singh said the government was willing to talk to anybody or any group which adopts peaceful means but asserted that it could not happen till violence ends, some of which is “orchestrated by certain groups”.
Gandhi linked the turmoil in Kashmir to “anger and pain” among Kashmiri youth who grew up in “conflict and brutality” and said their “legitimate aspirations” must be respected and a magnanimous approach adopted to give them hope.
Articulating BJP’s views, Nitin Gadkari supported any dialogue within the framework of the Indian Constitution but not before violence ends.
He said the country cannot ignore the fact that terrorism was being aided and abetted by elements in Pakistan and the government should factor this while devising its policies.
A statement issued at the end of the marathon meeting said the leaders agreed that the Indian Constitution provides ample scope to “accommodate any legitimate political demand through dialogue, civil discourse and peaceful negotiations.”
Accordingly, it was decided that an all-party delegation would be sent to Jammu and Kashmir, dates for which were not announced immediately.
“The leaders agreed that the delegation should meet all sections of the people and gather all shades of opinion. The visit of the all-party delegation would be facilitated by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the government of Jammu and Kashmir,” the statement said.
“The government will take into account the deliberations at today’s meeting while considering measures and initiatives to reach out to the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” it said, adding the feedback received from the all-party delegation would form an important input into the government’s evolving response on various issues relating to the State.
PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti, whose party is the main opposition in Jammu and Kashmir, demanded immediate revocation of AFSPA and withdrawal of armed forces from civil areas and release of political prisoners and “innocent detenues”.
Ruling National Conference, which was represented by its chief Farooq Abdullah, also sought revocation of AFSPA, at least partially, failing which amending it to make it “humane”.
The demand of the parties from the State was supported by the Left parties and Lok Janshakti Party.
BJP, Shiv Sena, Samajwadi Party and Rashtriya Janata Dal opposed any such move, saying nothing should be done to demoralise the forces.
There was a spat between Mehbooba and NC’s Mohd Shafi after the PDP leader attacked Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Mehbooba alleged that the situation in the State has worsened since Abdullah took charge and accused the chief minister of not consulting other parties and leaders on crucial issues, according to one of the participants.
She said when her father Mufti Sayeed was the chief minister he had made it a point to speak to all major leaders, which Abdullah has not done.
While the Chief Minister’s father Farooq Abdullah did not speak, his colleague Mohd Shafi shot back, saying PDP rule had also seen violence that had claimed 25 lives in the Valley. He, however, said NC did not want to politicise the issue.
In his opening remarks, the prime minister underlined that dialogue and discussion is the “only path for lasting peace and prosperity” in the State and those having grievance against the government “have to talk to the administration”.
Appealing for peace, he expressed sadness over the loss of lives and injuries suffered by the people, the police and security personnel besides “huge disruption” in the daily lives of the common man and the financial losses suffered by various sections of the society in the State.
“I am sure all of us share a deep sense of distress over the unfortunate sequence of events, during and after the Eid festival , particularly in the context of a reported act by a misguided person thousands of miles away,” he said, apparently referring to an alleged incident of desecration of the Quran in the United States.
“We have to talk to each other…But it is also true that meaningful dialogue can happen only in an atmosphere free from violence and confrontation. Discussions can take place
only if we have calm and public order,” Singh emphasised.
Expressing shock and distress over the fact that men, women and even children have been joining the protests on the streets of Kashmir, Singh said, “While some of these protests may have been impulsive or spontaneous, it cannot be denied that some incidents were orchestrated by certain groups.”
Gandhi asked why there was “so much anger” and “so much pain, in particular amongst the youth” of Kashmir. She said words would not suffice and “We must give them hope, we must understand and respect their legitimate aspirations.”
Pressing for spirit of accommodation and reconciliation, she said the “ideological and political differences” should be put aside as “we are facing far too serious a challenge to allow those differences to stand in the way of resolute, sensitive and appropriate actions”.
