Jammu, Jan 10 (KNS): Chairman PDF Hakeem Yaseen has said that the people of state have been repeatedly exploited on the promises of restoration of autonomy but their interests were always bartered by these political parties despite getting decisive mandate of the people many times since 1947. He said today once again these parties are trying to deceive people in forthcoming elections by raking up autonomy restoration issue to regain their lost power.
In a statement issued to KNS, Hakeem Yaseen while cautioning the people against machinations of these power hungry political parties, has said that history was witness how every time they bartered peoples mandate for securing their chair when they got an opportunity to forcefully and sincerely use absolute majority in the State Assembly for restoration of the state's internal autonomy since 1947.
While recounting that historical blunders committed by these political parties in this regard, Hakeem Yaseen said that in 1975 Late Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah abandoned peacefully going on 30 years Plebiscite movement under Indira-Abdullah accord and revived National conference to get chair with the external support of National congress. Later on, in 1977 Shiekh Sb again got overwhelming mandate of the people but his Government did not allow tabling of the autonomy resolution jointly moved by the Late Khawaja Abdul Gani Lone and Syed Ali Shah Geelani adding that this way the state lost a golden opportunity as Sheikh Sb was a tallest leader of international stature and his voice could have been heard appropriately at national and international levels. “Moreover, it was even enshrined in the Indira-Abdullah accord to review all laws implemented in the state since 1953 adding that even an empowered committee was constituted for the purpose. "Then in 1996 again a government with absolute majority came into existence but it did nothing to get its assembly resolution approved from the center and it preferred to their Chair than to press for approval of the autonomy resolution passed by the state assembly.” Had that majority government exercised its will with sincerity, it could have been a great turnaround in restoration of eroded autonomy of the state as at that moment country was headed by Prime Minister Late Atal Bihari Vajpayee who was a leader of great stature and wisdom and his good offices could have been utilised.
“It was an irony as to with which face they now try to woe the people on the plank of autonomy to regain their lost power,” Hakeem Yaseen ridiculed adding that their report card is in front of the eyes of people and they are wise enough to differentiate between their friends and foes.
Hakeem Yaseen said, in fact, these are parties who during their governments tormented the sanctity of Article 370 and badly eroded the left over internal autonomy of the state by amending the state constitution from time to time and implemented most of the draconian laws in the state. He questioned these parties how they claim now that a single party rule only can be in the larger interests of the state when they always bartered the interests of the state whenever they headed their respective single party governments in the state since 1947.
Hakeem Yaseen said that contrary to this, a coalition government can be more advantageous for strengthening of the democratic institutions, provided coalition partners are sincere to serve the people. “Moreover, in our state where people of the three regions viz Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir live with different cultures, religion and faiths ,a sincere coalition government can deliver better to satiate their individual urges and aspirations,” Hakeem Yaseen observed adding that the performance of the coalition governments headed by Late Khawaja Ghulam Mohammad Shah in1984 and by Late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Ghulam Nabi Azad are still remembered among the people of the state in terms of development and public service delivery. (KNS)