By IANS,
Jammu : The shutdown call given by political groups, protesting against the report of a prime minister’s working group recommending restoration of autonomy in Jammu and Kashmir, evoked partial response in the Jammu region Monday.
There was a partial response in Udampur, Reasi and Chenani towns but scant response in this winter capital of the state.
Shops and business establishments were closed in some parts of the region.
Though the police were deployed in strength here and in other towns, there was no report of any untoward incident from any part of the state.
Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP), which gave the shutdown call, described the report of Justice (retired) Sageer Ahmad as “trash”. Jammu State Morcha, Shiv Sena Hindustan and other groups also endorsed the shutdown call.
Bhartiya Janata Party is strongly opposed to the report but distanced itself from the shutdown call because of its differences with JKNPP.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s fifth working group tasked to suggest measures on how to improve centre-state relationships in Kashmir submitted its report to the chief minister last week.
The autonomy as per the 1952 Delhi-Kashmir accord means giving the Jammu and Kashmir government more powers over all affairs except foreign affairs, defence and communications.
Manmohan Singh had formed five Kashmir working groups in 2006. Four of them had submitted their reports in January 2007.