Jammu: The reported recommendation to restore some autonomous powers to Jammu and Kashmir has fuelled a predictable political debate, with opponents suggesting it would create more confusion than solve problems in the troubled state.
According to reports, the government-appointed interlocutors — Dileep Padgaonkar, Radha Kumar and M.M. Ansari — in their yet-to-be submitted interim report on a political settlement for Kashmir have suggested restoration of autonomy, a special status enjoyed by the state until 1953, under Article 370 of the constitution.
They have also recommended a debate on issues like erosion of the special status, changing the nomenclature of heads of government and state — wazir-e-azam and sadr-e-riyasat — the process of nominating a governor and on provisions of Article 356 that empowers the central government to dismiss state governments. But the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has termed the recommendations as "regressive".
"This is a regressive step. The interlocutors have destroyed their credibility, if they had any, by suggesting autonomy. How can the hands of a clock be reversed? It's unimaginable," said the BJP's Chaman Lal Gupta.
Distinctive dignity
"Any such recommendations would cause more friction and confusion in the state, rather than starting any reconciliation [to solve the problems]," Gupta told IANS.
The BJP's view is supported by the National Panthers Party of Bhim Singh. Singh staged a sit-in in Jammu on Friday against any move to restore autonomy to the state. But the ruling National Conference says more powers would "restore the distinctive dignity" of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
According to reports, the government-appointed interlocutors — Dileep Padgaonkar, Radha Kumar and M.M. Ansari — in their yet-to-be submitted interim report on a political settlement for Kashmir have suggested restoration of autonomy, a special status enjoyed by the state until 1953, under Article 370 of the constitution.
They have also recommended a debate on issues like erosion of the special status, changing the nomenclature of heads of government and state — wazir-e-azam and sadr-e-riyasat — the process of nominating a governor and on provisions of Article 356 that empowers the central government to dismiss state governments. But the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has termed the recommendations as "regressive".
"This is a regressive step. The interlocutors have destroyed their credibility, if they had any, by suggesting autonomy. How can the hands of a clock be reversed? It's unimaginable," said the BJP's Chaman Lal Gupta.
Distinctive dignity
"Any such recommendations would cause more friction and confusion in the state, rather than starting any reconciliation [to solve the problems]," Gupta told IANS.
The BJP's view is supported by the National Panthers Party of Bhim Singh. Singh staged a sit-in in Jammu on Friday against any move to restore autonomy to the state. But the ruling National Conference says more powers would "restore the distinctive dignity" of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
