While on day one of the ongoing assembly session a resolution brought by PDP MLA Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra against the August 5, 2019 decisions led to noisy scenes by legislators of rival parties, on day two the autonomy resolution of 2000 also came under spotlight briefly during the obituary references. Senior CPI (M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami mentioned it. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah while responding said that the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had perhaps later realised that his government had taken a decision in haste on the autonomy resolution.
The resolution, demanding greater autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir, was passed by the assembly in Srinagar in June 2000 and was forwarded to the union government for consideration. But the Vajpayee government rejected it.
“Later Vajpayee sahab had perhaps realised that the decision by his government was taken in haste. He then nominated the then Union Law Minister Arun Jaitley for holding talks with J&K government on autonomy. But after the governments changed no headway could be made,” Omar Abdullah said.
Passing of the autonomy resolution in the assembly was a surprise move by the Dr Farooq Abdullah led National Conference government in 2000. Neither media nor other parties had any clue about it. The move was seen as a master stroke by the ruling party two years ahead of the next assembly polls and attracted lot of attention politically and in the media. But the resolution was rejected by the union government. It came as a major blow to the National Conference, which was part of the BJP led NDA government at centre. NC convened its working committee meeting to discuss the issue and chalk out future strategy. The party had two options either to leave NDA or continue to be part of it.
The meeting remained inconclusive and the leaders were scheduled to meet again. But on July 11, 2000, Begum Akbar Jehan also known as Madr-e- Meharbaan, mother of the then Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, passed away. The then Prime Minister Vajpayee, Union Home Minister, L K Advani, and Defence Minister George Fernandes flew to Srinagar from New Delhi to offer condolences to the bereaved Abdullah family and attend her funeral. It was during a brief interaction with media near Hazratbal Shrine that Vajpayee announced that he has invited Dr Farooq Abdullah to New Delhi for talks on the autonomy related issue. Later Jaitley was authorised by union government for dialogue with J&K government. The NC government also formed a committee for talks. During the process no headway could be made.
Passing of autonomy resolution was NC government’s own choice. There was no pressure from any quarter for doing so at that time. This is unlike the present time. Right now the government is under pressure from its party cadres and Kashmir based opposition parties to move and pass a resolution against the August 5, 2019 decisions of the central government. Due to the decisions the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into two union territories and Article 370 and 35 A abrogated. NC in its election manifesto has promised passing of a resolution in the assembly against the decisions. On the first day of the assembly session, noisy scenes were witnessed as the PDP MLA Waheed Parra on his own moved a resolution against the August 5, 2019 decisions. Later, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah revealed that his government in coming days would move a proposal on the issue and hold consultations with the speaker and members of the assembly as to how to go about the process . In his speech he stated that the reality is that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have not endorsed the decisions made on August 5, 2019.
The provisional calendar of the business of the five day long assembly session had not mentioned anything about the resolution. Kashmir based opposition parties had criticised the government for not bringing the resolution. But now the Chief Minister has announced that a proposal will be brought in coming days.
The government was also under pressure to bring a resolution regarding restoration of full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. Recently, the cabinet in its very first meeting had passed such a resolution. The resolution was approved by the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and copy of the resolution was handed over to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by the Chief Minister during the latter’s meeting with him in New Delhi recently. The address by the Lieutenant Governor to assembly also referred to the statehood restoration and highlighted government efforts to get the status restored at the earliest. Next day while addressing a function in Baramulla he said that restoration of statehood to J&K is as certain as “the sun rising from the east.” Reports said that Lieutenant Governor added that no political effort or promises are required to fulfill this commitment.
It is to be seen when the proposal regarding August 5, 2019 decisions is moved by the government in the assembly. BJP on day one of the session indicated that it would oppose strongly if such a resolution is moved in the assembly. According to BJP legislators Article 370 is a closed chapter since Parliament abrogated it and Supreme Court in its verdict endorsed the decision. They alleged that Kashmir based political parties are misleading the people for their own vested political interests as Article 370 will never come back again.
Author is senior editor, Greater Kashmir
