‘Assembly can approve delimitation of seats’

Interlocutors find 59:41 ratio in expenditure of funds

JAMMU, Oct 10: The Interlocutors on Jammu and Kashmir, appointed by the Union Government in the aftermath of last year's summer unrest to study situation in all three regions of the State and make recommendations for a comprehensive solution to the problems faced by the people, were giving final touch to their report and would submit it to Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on October 12.

The Interlocutors-Dileep Padgaonkar, a journalist, Prof Radha Kumar, an academician and MM Ansari, a former Information Commissioner-were expected to give a unanimous report though there were reports that Mr Ansari could submit some additional documents to the Government of India, which he had been supplied in his individual capacity by some organisations especially those hailing from Jammu region.

The Interlocutors' report would be focused on political solution to Jammu and Kashmir problem while giving weightage to all other issues including Confidence Building Measures, unemployment, economic condition of people in some areas and a special mention of youth and their problems.

Ruling out restoration of pre-1953 position in the State, the Interlocutors have reportedly averred that if Parliament, J&K Assembly and all major political parties agreed on "some kind of autonomy’’ to the State as a "political solution’’ to the problem of Jammu and Kashmir, the proposal could be considered. They were in favour of granting adequate powers to all three regions of the State in the form of Regional or any other kind of Councils to end discrimination and meet regional aspirations. They have supported people-to-people contact between two parts of divided State, opening more routes, increasing frequency of buses and cross-LoC trade.

Well placed sources told the Excelsior that the Interlocutors have nearly come to the conclusion that funds approved by the Central Government to the State from time to time haven't been properly utilized. They have reportedly worked out the ratio of funds expenditure in the State at 59:41 for Kashmir and Jammu. They could suggest equal distribution of funds for two regions of the State and ‘‘adequate funding for Ladakh'' including two Autonomous Hill Development Councils for Leh and Kargil to remove a ‘‘general impression'' of discrimination in all three regions in their report.

The Interlocutors had relied on the reports of funds expenditure based on the figures obtained by them from the State's Planning Department for last 10 years as well as data submitted to them by some political parties and individuals during their interactions.

The Interlocutors, whose one year term expires on October 12, have already declared that they would submit their report on or before expiry of their tenure. They were reported to have sought appointment with both the Prime Minister and the Home Minister to submit their recommendations. They paid 12 visits to the State before finalising their recommendations in as many months.

Though one of the Interlocutors, MM Ansari had fallen apart from Mr Padgaonkar and Ms Kumar on their foreign meetings funded by the ISI agents, he joined the last meeting of the Interlocutors in the State last month and would also be joining them in submitting the report. However, he could submit some documents pertaining to use of funds in the State, separately, sources said.

The Interlocutors had reportedly came to the conclusion that demand for delimitation of Assembly constituencies in the State, raised from various quarters, was justified but it can't be met with due to a legislation passed by the State Legislature freezing fresh delimitation of Assembly seats till 2026.

They were of the view that the State Assembly had the powers to amend the legislation for delimitation of Assembly constituencies to raise their number from 87 to whatever the Legislature approved though for the purpose a two-third majority would be required in both the Houses.

The Congress (I), a major coalition partner in Chief Minister Omar Abdullah headed coalition Government in the State, though stood for delimitation of Assembly constituencies in public, has never stressed upon its coalition partner to take up the issue in the Assembly.

The NC-Congress together have a strength of nearly 45 MLAs in the Assembly. Since BJP, NPP and some other MLAs were in support of delimitation of Assembly constituencies, they could easily cobble up two-third majority in the Assembly while NC-Congress on their own have two-third majority in Legislative Council. However, since the Congress never took up the issue seriously, the NC also remained silent on the subject.

Ending regional imbalances and uniting Kashmiris by opening more cross-LoC routes, freezing restrictions on the visits and raising number of days of cross-LoC trade could be two major factors of the report. The Interlocutors would try to strike a balance between all three regions of the State while recommending ``some sort of powers'' to the State to satisfy aspirations of the people, sources said.

They added that the Interlocutors could recommend significant powers for all three regions---Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh--- of the State. The format of powers couldn't be ascertained but the Interlocutors have ruled out restoration of pre-1953 position in the State, a major demand of National Conference and self rule, advocated by the opposition PDP. The Congress stands for 1975 Indira-Sheikh accord and BJP for abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution, granting special status to the State. They were, however, of the view that if Parliament, State Assembly and political parties have unanimity, some kind of autonomy could be considered for the State.

The Interlocutors have virtually snubbed the BJP saying Article 370 should be kept alive. Their formula on grant of more powers to the State also lied well within the ambit of Article 370.

``There could be something significant and very important in the recommendations to satisfy aspirations of all three regions. The report is not going to be centric to any one particular region but would fulfill urges, to best possible extent, of three regions'', sources said.

They pointed out that the Interlocutors could also submit suggestions made to them by various groups including a couple of separatists they could manage to meet and formulas of both Hurriyat Conference factions headed by Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, Sajjad Lone, Yasin Malik and others. Without commenting upon the formulas, the Interlocutors could call for consideration of some points falling within the Constitution of India.

According to sources, the Interlocutors could also propose phased withdrawal of Armed Force Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and troops reduction in the Kashmir Valley especially in the areas, which were free of militancy and where no violence has been reported for a considerable period.

However, they were also expected to incorporate the opinion of Army garnered by them during their two prolonged meetings with Northern Command chief Lt Gen KT Parnaik including the one during their last trip to Udhampur. The Army has openly voiced its reservations over even partial or phased withdrawal of AFSPA.

The Interlocutors were likely to recommend release of political detenues, stone pelters and some other youths against whom there were no serious charges. They were expected to ask for allowing peaceful protests in the Valley and not using `force' on any kind of peaceful protesters.

Sources said the Interlocutors were of the opinion that people-to-people contact between two parts of divided Kashmir should be further strengthened by opening more cross-LoC routes in Kashmir, Ladakh and Jammu, increase frequency of cross-LoC weekly bus services and number of days of cross-LoC trade on Uri-Muzaffarabad and Poonch-Rawlakote route. They were likely to call for either freezing the permit required for cross-LoC visits or making the conditions simple to ensure that people between two parts of divided LoC could meet frequently and trade between the two sides increased. They were expected to call for providing more facilities to cross-LoC traders including opening of bank branches on either side of the LoC of two routes and doing away with the barter system of trade. They could recommend opening of all possible cross-LoC or cross-IB routes wherever possible to make the people of two sides meet frequently.

Sources said a number of demands including Scheduled Tribe (ST) status for some communities and demand of Hill Councils raised from some districts could find a mention in the report but not in the shape of recommendation. However, the demands of West Pakistan, PoK and other refugees have found favour with the Interlocutors.

They added that the Interlocutors were also likely to make a host of recommendations besides including proposals mooted by various political parties, organisations and individuals, which met them in all three regions of the State.

The Interlocutors have, however, ruled out grant of Union Territory status to Ladakh, demanded by various groups in Leh. They have reportedly called for keeping the State a single entity.

The Interlocutors visited all 22 districts of the State and received more than 600 delegations during their year long term. They held two Round Table Conference (RTCs) in Kashmir and one in Jammu. They had also planned to hold one RTC in Leh but couldn't do so due to paucity of time.

Barring a couple of separatists, no major separatist either in group or in individual met them. The separatists had even refused to submit their memoranda to the Interlocutors, which they collected on their own to incorporate some of their points in their report.