Offer a positive move: Farooq

By Shujaat Bukhari

SRINAGAR, JULY 13. Describing the offer of the Prime Minister, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, to have a dialogue on autonomy as a positive development, the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Dr Farooq Abdullah, said today that his visit to New Delhi for the purpose had been delayed in view of the demise of his mother, Begum Akbar Jehan, on Tuesday.

Addressing a rally at the ruling National Conference headquarters in connection with martyrs' day, Dr. Abdullah said the Centre had appreciated the importance of discussions on the vital issue. For his part, he would clear the unfounded apprehensions on autonomy during the meeting with Mr. Vajpayee. ``We do not want to weaken the country but only want the restoration of autonomy,'' he said. The Chief Minister admitted that a countrywide awareness campaign should have been launched after the tabling of the autonomy report in the State Assembly in April 1999 which would have left no room for any misunderstanding. The autonomy report sent 15 months ago to the Centre contained nothing which would weaken ties between the Centre and the State. An ``orchestrated misinformation tirade'' had been launched and a poisonous propaganda was being carried out alleging that it was a step to take away Kashmir from India.

The Chief Minister said a brochure on the salient features of the autonomy report would be brought out in various languages for distribution all over the country. The Minister concerned would also visit places to explain the document and dispel misgivings. The demand for autonomy was a deep yearning of the people. He lashed out at the Hurriyat leaders for bringing misery to the people.

Delhi visit delayed

Announcing that he had delayed his visit to Delhi for talks on autonomy, Dr. Abdullah said he would go to the Union capital next week in view of the mourning of the death his mother. He was scheduled to visit Delhi on July 15 before resuming the deliberations of the NC working committee which were suspended on July 10 and could not continue on the morrow due to the death of Begum Akbar Jehan. The meeting would resume on July 15.

Dr. Abdullah, however, will visit New Delhi tomorrow to receive the Dr. B. C. Roy award before returning to attend the fourth day ceremony with regard to his mother's death.

A stream of visitors continue to visit Dr. Abdullah's residence to condole the death of his mother. Former Union Ministers - Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad and Prof. Saifuddin Soz - paid a visit while Dr. Abdullah's wife, Mrs. Molly Abdullah, arrived today from London. Several leaders including the Congress(I) president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, the former the Prime Minister, Mr. P. V. Narasimha Rao, the Bihar Chief Minister, Mrs. Rabri Devi, the former Chief Minister, Mr. Laloo Prasad Yadav, the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, the former J & K Governor, Gen. K. V. Krishna Rao, and the Union Minister of Sports, Mr. S. S. Dhindsa, in separate messages condoled the death of Begum Jehan.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : National
Previous : BJP booklet 'not to confront RSS'
Next     : Govt. for consensus on anti-terrorism law