Farooq will dissolve, hopes Centre

The approach now appears to be to handle Farooq with kid gloves and allow him political space in the hope that he will ultimately agree.

The statement in Srinagar today by Defence Minister George Fernandes, that the Centre has no plans to impose Governor’s Rule, is part of the new tactics adopted by the Centre.

Official sources said that they continue to be optimistic that Farooq will come around.

Apart from the fact that virtually all political players in the state and the separatist groups have been demanding Governor’s Rule, there is also a view here that it is in the interest of the National Conference too that elections be conducted under a dispensation that cannot be accused of rigging.

If the NC wins the elections, it would prove the party’s pre-eminent position in the state.

This has been stressed to Farooq by Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani as well as Principal Secretary Brajesh Mishra. Farooq’s response has been that his party is strongly opposed to the idea.

Ironically, Farooq had agreed earlier. Under that plan, he was to move to Delhi as a Cabinet Minister without portfolio. Omar was to take over as Chief Minister and announce dissolution of the assembly and recommend Governor’s Rule. This was all supposed to happen by July 21.

The plan came unstuck, according to NC sources, because Delhi went public with it through statements by Vajpayee and Advani suggesting that polls be held under Governor’s Rule. NC sources said that this put Farooq in an awkward position. He could not go ahead with the plan without compromising his efforts to appear to be independent of the Centre.

Sources here said that efforts are still on to persuade Farooq. They pointed out that Governor’s Rule can be imposed any time before first notification for the polls is issued on August 20.

This leaves the Centre with two and a half weeks to work on Farooq. Meanwhile, another group of interlocutors for Kashmir was announced today. This is a seven-member team headed by former Law Minister Ram Jethmalani.

The other members are eminent jurist Fali Nariman, editors Dilip Padgaonkar and M.J. Akbar, former diplomat V.K. Grover, former Law Minister Shanti Bhushan and Supreme Court lawyer Ashok Bhan.

According to Padgaonkar, the group will hold its first meeting at Jethmalani’s residence tomorrow to chalk out its agenda.

‘‘It is entirely a private initiative, started by Ram Jethmalani,’’ he said. The idea is to talk to all groups in the state, including the Hurriyat, Shabir Shah, the National Conference and whoever else is willing, he added.

‘‘We feel there is a political impasse and this can only be broken through dialogue,’’ Padgaonkar said.

A strong statement issued by Jethmalani today warned the Centre against holding polls in J-K without securing the assurance of participation from separatist groups.

‘‘It will be totally counter-productive. Such elements have promptly expressed their resentment and frustration. This needs to be taken notice of and neutralised,’’ the statement said.

Stressing the need for a thorough dialogue with these elements, Jethmalani said, ‘‘I wish to warn the Government that if the dialogue has not been started, it must start forthwith and suitable assurances given and obtained.’’

Jethmalani also criticised Chief Election Commissioner J.M. Lyngdoh’s statement referring to international observers as ‘‘the white man’s interference in the affairs of native people’’.

‘‘The Election Commissioner would be well-advised to keep his mouth shut,’’ he said, adding, ‘‘In matters like this, the EC should first understand the stand of government and refrain from making pronouncements which cast doubts on the credibility of government public assurances.’’