Centre summons Farooq to discuss autonomy resolution

The Chief Minister is to be accompanied by his finance minister, A R Rather, on his visit to Delhi. Rather is the main architect of the autonomy report which was framed by a high-level committee, headed by senior National Conference leader and urban development minister Ghulam Mohideen Shah.

It is learnt that the Chief Minister’s conference to discuss uniformity in sales tax on 200 goods across the country and related issues to avoid problems between the states had been fixed for tomorrow two weeks ago. “The meeting will be attended by CMs and their finance ministers from all the states,” sources said.

However, sources claimed, that for Farooq, the meeting in Delhi is just an alibi. “He could have easily skipped it as in any case his finance minister was going. He has been summoned to Delhi to discuss the controversial matter (autonomy).” sources said. “The BJP brass is, in fact, under tremendous pressure from their state unit, which is up in arms against the National Conference. They want to try to either convince him to delay adoption of the resolution or at least tone it down.”

Abdullah’s tone in the Assembly was a pointer. Responding to the BJP members on the Opposition benches, he said: “I know you people are not going to give us anything but at least listen to us.” The BJP members were shouting at a NC legislator from Nobra (Ladakh), who was speaking in favour of autonomy.

In fact, the BJP legislators today openly accused the ruling National Conference of being anti-national because of their autonomy demand and even accused its legislators of being with the separatist Hurriyat Conference.

Addressing Abdullah, BJP legislator Choudhry Piyara Singh said, “aapkay bees se bayees MLAs aap kay bhi anti hain, woh to Hurriyat kay saath hain (your own 20 to 22 MLAs are anti to you. They are with the Hurriyat Conference),” he shouted. The BJP and Congress legislators in the Assembly claimed that the NC demand of autonomy amounted to disintegrating the country.

However, the ruling NC seems firm in its resolve to take the autonomy demand to its logical conclusion. “We are not asking the Centre for any favour. We are seeking our genuine right which had been snatched from us,” said a senior NC leader. “We don’t ask for anything new. We want them to restore what has been eroded unconstitutionally since 1953. We want our instrument of accession to be implemented in letter and spirit.”