By Sheikh Qayoom ,
Srinagar, July 1 (IANS) While the central interlocutors’ report on Jammu and Kashmir is yet to find any serious takers here, Mustafa Kamal, a senior ruling National Conference (NC) leader and son of party founder Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah says New Delhi did not even implement the terms of 1975 Indira-Abdullah accord.
“The exercise of the agreement was never completed. This was also stated by former chief minister, Syed Mir Qasim, in his autobiography, Kamal told IANS in an interview.
“I met him in New Delhi along with my brother Tariq Abdullah. We asked him what the 1975 accord was. He said the exercise was incomplete. Two persons were appointed by Sheikh Abdullah and Indira Gandhi to discuss the laws passed in the state by amending the state’s constitution from 1953 to 1974 and give recommendations as to how these laws can be restored in their original form of 1953. Mirza Muhammad Afzal Beg and G. Parthasarthy worked out the formula that was to be presented to the central and the state governments.
“It was not the issue between two individuals, rather it was an issue between the two governments. Even if they had met and for argument’s sake agreed, it had to go to the respective cabinets for approval. And then if the cabinets had approved it or otherwise it had to be sent to legislatures of both the governments. That exercise never took place”.
Talking to ‘Kashmir Eye’ a local magazine, Kamal also said the state’s accession to India is conditional.
“Accession with India is conditional. It is absolutely not an unconditional accession and it is based on the instrument of accession of late Maharaja Hari Singh on the bases of which the constitution application order of 1950, the Delhi agreement of 1952 and article 370 of the Indian constitution were extended to the state.
“Accession of the state pertains to three subjects of foreign affairs, defence and communication”.
Kamal, who is a sitting legislator in the 87-member assembly, said after the tribal invasion of the state in 1947 the Dogra ruler sought military help from India which the latter agreed to give only after he temporarily signed the accession that would give India’s military assistance some legal basis.
He also blamed the Congress party, an alliance partner in the coalition government headed by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, of being “mischievous” in its “Kashmir dealings”.
“The attitudes of the Congress and their dealings with the state right from 1953 have been mischievous. The action of dismissing a popular Prime Minister in 1953 was the first blow to the NC.
“From that day, four times governor’s rule has been invoked in the state without any justification.
“They stabbed Sheri-e-Kashmir (Kamal’s father) in the back not only in 1953 but in 1977 also. If the accord of 1975 had been agreed to by Sheikh Sahib why did they bury it by removing him within eleven months of signing of the so-called agreement?
“And then Mufti Muhammad Sayeed was made leader of the house. It was the constitution of the state that prevented that to happen because (then governor) L.K. Jha, despite pressure from New Delhi did not succumb. Jha said he had to defend the constitution of the state under which he had taken oath,” Kamal pointed out.
Kamal has termed the NC’s present alliance with the Congress as “unfortunate, unholy and an alliance of compulsion”.