'Greater autonomy is the way out in Kashmir': National Conference

Srinagar: Opposition National Conference (NC) said on Saturday that restoring greater autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir is the only way forward to settle its political issues. It also asserted that continued India-Pakistan dialogue will ensure lasting regional peace.

Reiterating its stand on the autonomy issue, the NC said it is core of the party’s political agenda and a way forward towards resolution of the political issue of the State.

In a resolution, adopted at an eight-hour long central working committee meeting of the NC, presided over by its president Dr Farooq Abdullah, the party said its stand on this important agenda is loud and clear, “as autonomy is imperative for upholding the political dignity and rights of the people of Jammu and Kashmir”. NC working president and former Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, also attended the meeting held in Jammu.

Briefing reporters on the deliberations of the meeting, a party spokesman said that the NC central working committee stressed the need for continued dialogue between India and Pakistan, asserting it is the only way forward towards restoration of sustained peace in the region.

“The sustained dialogue can open window for all the problems between India and Pakistan, including issue regarding Jammu and Kashmir”, the meeting resolved in another resolution. It reiterated that un-interrupted dialogue process should continue in the larger interests of the people of both the countries.

In yet another resolution, the committee reiterated its ‘principled stand’ to uphold the pluralistic and secular ethos of Jammu and Kashmir and said that it has become vital as divisive forces are hell-bent upon dividing the State on regional and religious lines. The party expressed grave concern over some recent incidents where in concerted efforts were made to polarize the State on communal and regional basis.

“CWC firmly resolves its commitment to the integrity and unity of the State and shall continue to strive to protect secular, pluralistic and democratic ethos of the state”, the resolution added.

The spokesman said that the CWC expressed deep anguish over the Handwara incidents and sought judicial inquiry by a sitting High Court Judge into the entire episode.

“The victims should be adequately compensated and rehabilitated”, it demanded while expressing solidarity with all those who lost their dear ones in the Army and police actions. It sought severe punishment to the guilty.