Nov.29,2005
J&K parties reject joint-control theory of US-based group
S.P. Sharma
Tribune News Service
Jammu, November 28
There is no taker here of the US-based Kashmir Study Group's (KSG) theory of joint control of India and Pakistan over Jammu & Kashmir and the main parties in Jammu and Ladakh have rejected the proposal outrightly.
While the Kashmir-based separatists, the PDP of Mufti Sayeed and the National Conference were either in favour of the proposal or wanted autonomy for the state, the BJP in Jammu and the Ladakh Union Territory Front (LUTF) say that accession of J&K to India was irrevocable and steps should be taken to bring the state in the mainstream of the country.
Various US-based individuals and bodies have started lobbying for the "self governance" proposal that also mooted by Pakistan.
Proposals of the KSG have evoked strong reactions here with the BJP describing it as an "insidious influence" to make India withdraw from Jammu and Kashmir and hand over the state to the Pakistani agents in Kashmir.
In a hard-hitting reaction, Prof Hari Om, vice-president of the BJP, today said that anti-India elements, including many sitting in Delhi, were these days busy conspiring against India with a view to preparing ground for another partition of the country on communal lines and throwing in the lot of the non-Muslim minorities in the state with the religious fanatics masquerading as freedom fighters. He named some individuals in his statement.
He said it was difficult to understand why the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre was watching as mute spectator anti-India activities going on in Delhi itself and allowing them to vitiate the country's politico-religious atmosphere.
Prof Hari Om said neither Mr Omar Abdullah and Ms Mehbooba Mufti, who were supporting the idea of self-governance, represented will of the people. He alleged they represented only the opinion which hates pluralism, diversity, secularism and the principle of justice, fair play and equal participation.
Chairman of the Hill Development Council of Ladakh, Tsring Dorjey, when contacted at Leh over the telephone, rejected the proposals of the KSG and said that we wanted to strengthen ties with India.
The idea of J&K becoming a buffer state was not acceptable to the people of Ladakh who wanted to join the mainstream of the country, he added.
Mr Rajiv Chunni, president of the SOS Refugees Organisation, who represents the displaced persons of Muzaffarabad (PoK), said that the accession of J&K to India was final and toying with the idea of self-governance or joint control of India and Pakistan over Kashmir was a dangerous proposition that was not acceptable to the refugees.
He questioned the proposal of the KSG that all displaced persons on either side would have the right to return to their home localities and pointed out that with Mirpur town (PoK) having submerged under the waters of the Mangla dam there was no question of the refugees returning there.
The KSG, that has claimed to have taken into account the Kashmiri sentiments before preparing the proposals, has among other things suggested that the borders of Jammu and Kashmir in India and Pakistan would remain open for the free transit of people, goods, services in accordance with arrangements to be worked out between India, Pakistan and the five entities of J&K.
The KSG has recommended that portions of the formerly princely state of Jammu and Kashmir be reconstituted into self-governing entities enjoying free access to one another and to and from India and Pakistan.
While the present Line of Control (LoC) would remain in place till such time as both India and Pakistan decided to alter it in their mutual interest, both India and Pakistan would de-militarise the area included in the entities. Neither India nor Pakistan could place troops on the other side of the LoC without the permission of the other side.
All displaced persons who left any portion of the entities would have the right to return to their home localities.
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