Other States - Jammu & Kashmir   

Parties hail PM's decision

Staff Reporter

`Centre's move on decentralisation of powers a welcome step'

JAMMU: The Prime Minister's decision to form a working group for suggesting decentralisation of powers to various regions of Jammu and Kashmir has been termed as historic by various mainstream political parties and intelligentsia. Many have described this as a culmination of a struggle of the activists who have been demanding a federal State of Jammu and Kashmir with powers being devolved to various regions and ethnic groups.

J&K Chief Minister and Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad has stated that there can be no solution without accommodating the viewpoints of all the three regions of the State- Jammu, Kashmir Valley and Ladakh. "Therefore we are working to create a harmonious State of Jammu and Kashmir where no one feels deprived and neglected," he added. In fact, after the famous Nehru-Abdullah accord of 1952 it is for the first time that the idea of a federal State has been mooted now.

Ladakhi Ministers have also welcomed the idea of the Prime Minister. Power Minister and Leh MLA Nawang Rigzin Jora said: "The State with all its diversity requires a federal set up and the Centre's decision is certainly a welcome step.''

The United Gujjar-Bakerwal front leader, Shah Mohammad, described the Central Government's decision to take into account the regional and ethnic aspirations as nothing less than historic. "The PM has shown vision by taking into account the ethnic aspirations of tribal community of the State.'' Pahari Welfare Board Chairman Shabir Khan also welcomed the move and hoped that the Pahari-speaking community of the State would be given benefits so that they can march ahead in their lives along with other communities of Jammu and Kashmir.

Institute of J&K Affairs Director Balraj Puri, who is said to have originated the idea of regional autonomy six decades ago, said: "This is the first time that the Indian State has realised the importance of resolving the issue of regional tensions. This factor has been ignored for very long and was responsible for aggravating the Kashmir problem.''

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