Round table thumping

The round table conference served to favour the separatists

The article, 8216;Round table hopping in Kashmir8217; IE, March 18, by Neerja Chowdhury, is one side of the story about the 8220;significant8221; round table conference held at 7, Race Course, on February 25. It is obviously based on what was told to her by former J038;K chief minister, Mufti Mohammed Sayeed.

The other side of the story is not really inspiring. It is even discouraging. How else should one describe the Mufti8217;s concluding remarks that 8220;there is a need to evolve a common understanding on autonomy and self-rule for J038;K8221;. Again, how else should one describe the conspicuous absence in his remarks of any reference whatsoever to those who denounced the ideology of hate and advocated the 8220;free flow of the Indian Constitution, minus Article 3708221;, and the isolation of those who have been demanding autonomy or self-rule under one pretext or the other? Similarly, what should we make out of his regret over the non-participation of the separatists in the round table conference, and his suggestion that he and his government would continue to persuade them to participate in such conferences to be held in the days to come? His suggestion of evolving a consensus and a 8220;common understanding on autonomy and self-rule8221; in such conferences could be taken to mean nothing but the dilution of the pro-India position.

Let us examine the composition and complexion of the round table conference and the manner in which National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan and Water Resources Minister Saifuddin Soz conducted the proceedings. It only showcased the Congress and its allies in the state, including the People8217;s Democratic Party, Panthers Party, People8217;s Democratic Forum, and Left parties.

The Congress was represented by no less than 12 leaders, the PDP by four, PP by five, the PDF by two, and the CPI and CPM, by one each. The champions of greater autonomy were also there in strength. I am referring to those who represented the National Conference and others. They were nine, with four from the NC. The votaries of total independence from both India and Pakistan including the chairman of the Democratic Liberation Party were also there.

The protagonists of the free flow of Indian Constitution were there but only as a minuscule presence: just 11, to be exact. Two belonged to the BJP, two to the Panun Kashmir PK, two to the Congress one belonged to Jammu and the other to Leh, two to the Ladakh Union Territory Front LUTF, one to the PDF, and one to the Jammu Bar Association JBA. Even a cursory look at the composition of the round table conference reveals two things. One, it was a truncated conference in which reactionary elements and those who stand for the dilution of the Indian sovereignty over J038;K reigned supreme. Two, those deemed inconvenient, read pro-integrationist, were rigorously excluded.

It is also clear that the round table conference and the PM8217;s concluding remarks have only served to embolden further the reactionary elements. What a shame! Towards which direction is the Indian nation heading?