Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah yesterday said that regional aspirations should be respected to maintain the unity of the country.
Inaugurating a two-day 12th All India Whips conference at Sher-i-Kashmir international convention complex on the bank of Dal lake here, Farooq said over centralisation results in problems, and disrespect for regional aspirations gives rise to terrorism.
Referring to Jammu and Kashmir, he said after a long spell of Central rule, elections were finally held but the elected government was facing difficulties as militancy had brought largescale destructions to the state.
More From This Section
About Indias efforts to improve relations with Pakistan, he said Prime Minister I K Gujral, had taken initiative to resume talks with that country but Pakistan continues to support terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral part of India
Farooq lauded the role of security forces in dealing with infiltration and militancy in the state.
Over 200 delegates from across the country are attending the conference which is the first national conference being held in Srinagar after a gap of eight years.
He said that a committee to suggest regional autonomy has been appointed under the states constitution. He reiterated his stand on the question of autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir. He said it needs to be restored in the spirit of the Delhi agreement of 1952.
He despelled any impression that the national conference was for the secession of Jammu and Kashmir.
The concept of autonomy is not to weaken the ties of the state with the rest of the country but it will go a long way in greater integration by meeting regional aspirations of the people, he said.
He said talks with terrorists should be held only within the framework of the constitution.
In his address, Union minister for Parliamentary affairs and tourism Srikanta Kumar Jena said the ongoing conference has a special significance as it is being held in the golden jubilee year of independence.
Jena said the discussions in this regard should be plain, frank and above all introspective.
If we find anything amiss in our working, we should not hesitate in seriously considering ways to mend the same, the Union minister said.
He asked the delegates to examine the suggestion put forth during the 1994 Bangalore Whips conference that there should be a small group of Whips set up in each legislature.
Whenever there is any disorder of unmanageable dimension and the house is forced to be adjourned, this group of whips should immediately meet, consult the concerned parties and members, find a way out of the impasse and assist the presiding officer in restoring order in the house.