J-K autonomy session 8212; BJP to observe black week8217;

JAMMU, JUNE 19: Notwithstanding Union Home Minister L K Advani's recent statement that the Centre can consider the National Conference's d...

JAMMU, JUNE 19: Notwithstanding Union Home Minister L K Advani8217;s recent statement that the Centre can consider the National Conference8217;s demand for greater autonomy, the state unit of the BJP has decided to fight it tooth and nail in and outside the Assembly during the ensuing special session of the Legislature on the issue. However, the protest by the BJP seems to be only symbolic as it is unlikely to cause any impact owing to its small strength inside the House and weak mass base in the Valley.

The BJP has decided to observe the special session of State Legislature from June 19-24 as 8220;black week.8221; Though protests will be held at all the district headquarters in the State, it may be a futile exercise by the BJP in the summer Capital. 8220;The National Conference has purposely chosen to convene the special session in Srinagar. They NC know that the BJP does not have a strong base in Kashmir and there will be hardly any opposition to the discussion on the autonomy report tabled by the NC. Anyway, we can only lodge our protest against the demand and we will do that,8221; said a BJP leader, requesting anonymity.

The BJP general secretary and in charge Jammu and Kashmir Affairs, Narinder Modi, replied in a roundabout manner. 8220;Srinagar is not the whole of Jammu and Kashmir. We consider Jamp;K as one unit. People can protest anywhere in the State against the demand for autonomy.8221; Modi, who came here on a one-day visit to chalk out BJP8217;s strategy on the issue, discussed the matter with the MLAs and senior leaders of the party.

BJP State general secretary and spokesman Nirmal Singh said the party has also made inroads in the Valley and the membership has risen to over 10,000 there. 8220;The situation has changed now. We have got BJP leaders and workers across the length and breadth of the Valley. On the opening day of the special session on June 19, the BJP members will be protesting against the demand by burying the effigies of autonomy,8221; he said. The BJP activists will be burning/burying the effigies at the district headquarters depending upon the funeral rites observed by the majority community in the district.

Echoing similar views, BJP state president Daya Krishan Kotwal said lot many people have joined the BJP despite terrorism in Kashmir. 8220;The number of BJP members has swelled over the years in the Valley. The number may be very small as compared to the membership in the Jammu region, but what matters is the stand taken by the party. Even one voice is enough to register our protest and convey the party8217;s stand on the issue,8221; he said.

When asked why there was a contradiction in the stand taken by the Central leadership of the party and the state unit over the issue, Modi said,8220;All I can say is that the state unit is going to oppose the autonomy demand. That is the stand taken by the BJP.8221;

Giving details of the 8220;black week8221;, Singh said besides protest marches and burning/burying of effigies of autonomy, memorandum will be submitted to the President of India through the district administration in all the districts of the State. 8220;The demand for greater autonomy is a step towards disintegration of Jammu and Kashmir from the rest of the country. The memorandum will expose the National Conference8217;s design.8221;

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Singh said founder of Jan Sangh Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee sacrificed his life on June 23, 1953 for Ek nishan, ek pradhan, ek vidhan. He said the demand for greater autonomy is against the stand taken by Mukherjee and the BJP cannot accept it. He said the state unit of the party will be observing June 23 as Aakrosh Diwas. During the week there will be torch-light processions and dharnas also to protest against the autonomy demand, he added.

Singh further said that the party8217;s Legislators are meeting at Srinagar today to decide about the party8217;s strategy inside the Assembly and Council.

Keeping in view the strength of BJP legislators, it may not be a force to reckon with in the Legislature. The BJP has only 7 MLAs and one MLC. Singh is, however, hopeful that irrespective of the party affiliation all the legislators who are opposed to the idea of greater autonomy will unite together in the national interest to defeat the NC8217;s design.