LISBON/NEW DELHI, JUNE 27: The Centre seems to have decided to play it safe after the passage of the autonomy resolution in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly yesterday. Although there was no official comment from the Prime Minister or his team in Lisbon, there were indications that the Centre is not going to precipitate matters.In fact, it feels that the end result of such a resolution has to be a ``dialogue'' between the Centre and the State. Especially since the resolution has no legal sanctity as per the Constitution, a fact which Union Law Minister Ram Jethmalani reiterated today saying that it was a ``legal and constitutional'' non-event but could have serious political implications.That's why Union Home Minister L K Advani, arriving in New Delhi from his Europe trip, also kept his cards close to his chest declining to comment either way on the resolution. He did not spell out the Government's response but suggested its outcome. ``This issue,'' he said, ``will be finally dealt by Parliament whose composition and views of political parties are known to everyone.'' Advani said the Government would go through the resolution only after the Prime Minister returns. ``Whatever is to be done is to be done by Parliament. The devolution of powers in favour of states is to be decided by the Centre and Parliament. The Centre favours more devolution of powers to the states, and as it is, J&K has already got more powers,'' he said.When Advani's attention was drawn to reported remarks by state Chief Minister Farooq Adullah that even the Prime Minister had welcomed the autonomy move, he shot back: ``I will not comment on it. If at all anything has to be said on it, the Prime Minister will say it''.At the same time, Advani ruled out breaking political ties with the National Conference (NC). ``NC is part of the National Democratic Alliance'' he said. Farooq Abdullah has not said he is not part of the NDA.''
