Srinagar, Feb 8: The ruling National Conference-Congress coalition continues to be indecisive over the crucial Justice Saghir Committee report on Center-State relations. Sources said the bone of contention is the stand of the parties on crucial issues of Autonomy and delimitation of Assembly constituencies.
This is despite seven extensions to the Cabinet Sub-Committee (CSC) studying the report since 2010. The interim report submitted by the CSC last year is also gathering dust as some quarters have raised objections over it.
The CSC headed by Finance Minister Abdur Rahim Rather was formed on the directions of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in January 2010 after Justice Saghir submitted his report under Prime Minister’s 5th Working Group on Centre-State relations to the CM on December 23, 2009. The CSC was first of its kind to have eight Cabinet ministers-four from NC and four from Congress. The CSC has not met since Durbar move offices shifted to Jammu on October 28 last year.
Senior NC leader and Minister for Rural Development, Ali Muhammad Sagar, said, “Our stand on Autonomy is clear that it is the best possible solution to the Kashmir issue. And as far as Delimitation Commission is concerned, we have made it clear that till 2026, no delimitation of constituencies would take place,” he said. On the other hand, Congress continues to stick to its stand that 1975 Accord between Indira Gandhi and Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah has to be the base for any debate on Kashmir.
“We believe in 1975 Accord, everything has been settled between the two leaders who were of a very high stature. Nothing remains to be discussed. Clock can’t be turned back,” said a senior Congress Minister, who is also a member of the CSC.
Sagar said it was a fact that meetings of CSC have been delayed for long. “It is the discretion of the Chairman to convene the meeting of CSC,” he said.
Sagar said the CSC in its series of meetings had managed to break ice on certain important issues like filling the vacancies of judges, upholding Article 370 and strengthening the Hill Development Councils. “We had mutually agreed on at least 15 points to frame an interim report. The report lies with the Cabinet,” the minister said. Sagar, however, said a few things - Autonomy and setting up of Delimitation Commission -were left for future discussions.
The interim report was submitted to the state Cabinet in June last year. “But there is no progress over it so far,” sources said.
Senior Congress leader Taj Mohiudin revealed that there “were reservations from some quarters” that has led to non-implementation of the recommendations of the interim report. “Yes there is a delay due to some reservations. Interim report was submitted to the state Cabinet after thorough consultations and consensus,” he said.
Sources said it was very unlikely in near future that the CSC Chairman would convene the meeting to discuss the left out issues, especially Autonomy. “The Finance Minister is busy in preparing the annual budget for 2013-14. It is almost impossible that he would fix the meeting of CSC till budget session ends,” sources said.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 8 Feb 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 8 Feb 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 9 Feb 2013 00:00:00 IST