Harping on the slogan of ‘Regional Autonomy’, National Conference president and sitting member of Parliament from Srinagar, Farooq Abdullah on Thursday announced if voted to power a resolution seeking ‘Regional Autonomy’ for all three regions of the State will be passed in the Assembly.
“If voted to power in the State Assembly our party will pass a resolution seeking ‘Regional Autonomy’ for all three regions of the State within 30 days of the Government formation,” announced Abdullah soon after welcoming former BJP MLA Gagan Bhagat in the party here at the Sher-e-Kashmir Bhawan.
Bhagat was recently expelled by the BJP for indulging in anti-party activities in the State. He represented RS Pura Assembly seat in the State Assembly.
Earlier, on June 26, 2000 the Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly had adopted by voice vote a resolution accepting the report of the State Autonomy Committee (SAC), recommending greater autonomy to the State.
Ten days later on July 5, 2000 the Union Government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee had rejected the June 26 resolution saying it was unacceptable because essentially it was “a plea for restoration of the pre- 1953” status to the State.
The top brass of the National Conference has been making it a poll issue ahead of every election season in the State but till date they have failed to realise their dream of granting ‘autonomy’ to the State.
Political observers feel common man is not seeking ‘Autonomy’. “By and large people demand corruption free and transparent governance in the State. By raking up the issue of Regional Autonomy, National Conference is once again misleading the people of the State and trying to fill the gap left behind by the failure of the BJP-PDP Government in the State.
A political observed told The Pioneer, “The State autonomy got eroded when leaders of Kashmir based political parties were ruling the State.”