World | India
National Conference reiterates demand for Kashmir autonomy
Jammu and Kashmir's main opposition party the National Conference yesterday urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to announce an autonomy package for the state.
- IANS
- Published: 00:45 April 27, 2008
Jammu: Jammu and Kashmir's main opposition party the National Conference yesterday urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to announce an autonomy package for the state.
"The autonomy package, in line with the resolution passed by the state legislative assembly in 2000, should be granted to Jammu and Kashmir as that alone would restore peace in the state and also uphold the dignity of the people," said National Conference provincial president Ajay Sadhotra, who led a delegation of his party leaders to meet the prime minister here yesterday.
In June-July 2000, when the National Conference was in power, the state legislative assembly in a special session passed a resolution seeking restoration of autonomy to the state, complete control of the state in all areas barring foreign affairs, communications and defence, and also restoration of titles of prime minister instead of chief minister and sadar-e-riyasat for head of the state instead of governor.
The report and resolution were submitted to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance government in the same year, but were rejected. One of the five working groups constituted by the prime minister in 2006 is studying how to improve centre-state relations in the context of Jammu and Kashmir.
Report
This group headed by Justice (Retd) Sageer Ahmad has not submitted its report so far, while four others have already done so.
The National Conference also demanded the group submit its report.
The delegation asked the prime minister to implement the recommendations of the other working groups at the earliest.
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