Thaindian News

Jammu, Aug 18 (IANS) Anti-autonomy voices and demonstrations have gained momentum in Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh talked about greater empowerment of the state.
The prime minister’s suggestion of discussing and granting autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir within the ambit of the Indian constitution has triggered protests in Jammu, the Hindu majority region, where people feel that it amounted to secession.

The autonomy means reversal of Jammu and Kashmir to pre-1953 status when the state was sovereign in all matters except external affairs, communications and defence.

The status was withdrawn during all these years by the state legislature, though the state still retains its special status to some extent under Article 370 of the Indian constitution, and has its own constitution and flag.

No central law can automatically get applied to Jammu and Kashmir until endorsed by the state legislature.

Scores of activists of Panun Kashmir, an organisation of Kashmiri Pandits or Hindus of the Kashmir Valley who settled outside it, Wednesday held a demonstration here.

They raised slogans against autonomy and the placards held aloft in their hands read: “No to autonomy”.

Panun Kashmir Chairman Agnishekhar told reporters that the demonstration was “part of a series of protests”.

“Autonomy is almost like giving ‘azadi’ (freedom) to the fundamentalist forces. The Indian leadership should not allow itself to this blackmail of such forces,” he added.

Several other organisations like Jammu Mukti Morcha and Jammu State Morcha have ridiculed the concept.

Jammu Mukti Morcha convenor Virender Gupta said: “This is an anti-national move. We will not allow this to happen.”

“We will oppose it tooth and nail,” he said.

Jammu is opposed to grant of autonomy because it will reduce the central government’s influence over Jammu and Kashmir and the minorities of the state, especially Hindus, are against it, he pointed out.