Restore J&K to ‘original rulers’,says NC leader

Three days after he made the statement during a discussion in the Assembly,Ajatshatru told The Sunday Express he made the statement because he felt sad for the people. “Let me first clarify that it was my personal view,which I made in the context of a particular situation. I said if the government is unable to rule properly,the state must be restored to its original rulers,” Ajatshatru,who was in Delhi,said.

However,his statement has not gone down well with NC leadership,with senior leader Mustafa Kamal saying he must remember the circumstances under which the “oppressive and autocratic rule” of the Dogra dynasty was “ended by a people’s rebellion” led by NC founder Sheikh Abdullah.

“These are his own views and the party has nothing to do with them. But,we are not taking them lightly. Did anybody take away the rule from his family? His grandfather,Maharaja Hari Singh,himself handed over the reins to an interim government headed by Sheikh Abdullah. If he feels so strongly about this proposal,he must first bring together entire state,including parts of Tibet and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir,as it existed during Maharaja’s rule. Thereafter,people can decide through a referendum if they want to go back to monarchy,” Kamal said.

On his part,Ajatshatru — one reason for his unhappiness could be that the Nagrota seat from where he has lost in the last two elections,is being eyed by NC’s provincial chief Davinder Rana — said he stood by what he said in the House.“I said what I did because I felt the anguish of the common man,” he said.

What about the perception that his statement was a vote against the Omar Abdullah government? “Omar knows best what he has to do to control the situation. I am not questioning him. As for whether I am fielded from Nagrota,that is the party’s call that it will take when elections come,” he said.