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Pressure on Abdullah to move autonomy resolution

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

Despite a warning from the Centre, there is fresh pressure on Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah to move a resolution to adopt the State Autonomy Committee report and its speedy implementation.

Sources said the ruling party may table the resolution in the State assembly this afternoon, along with an amendment moved by National Conference legislators Sadiq Ali, Mohammad Shafi Bhat and Ghulam Mohammad Bhavan. The amendment has been admitted along with the motion moved by State Parliamentary Affairs Minister P L Handoo.

After his return from New Delhi, Abdullah had decided not to move the resolution along with the amendment, following a meeting with Prime Minister A B Vajpayee. The Centre had reportedly told Abdullah not to put the resolution to vote. However, NC leaders and ministers, who spoke openly for early restoration of autonomy, mounted pressure on the chief minister, who is also president of the party.

Sources said that there was no "choice for the party leadership but to go ahead with the resolution on the last day of the extended special session of the state assembly". The sources said that Abdullah had tried to avoid a confrontation with the Centre over the sensitive issue. The amendment says: "This august House resolves that the State Autonomy Committee report, placed on the table of the House on April 13, 1999 be adopted and positive steps be taken for its speedy implementation."

All members of the House, except for Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress legislators, spoke in favour of early restoration of the committee recommendations. However, the sources said that all will depend on Abdullah, who has been authorised by the party leadership to take a final decision. A minister said, "Further discussions on whether to move the resolution or not will be taken before the session begins.''

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