Even as the Congress and the People’s Democratic Party continued negotiations over forming the next government in Jammu and Kashmir, the Centre — so long on the sidelines — got into the act, essentially setting broad parameters for the new dispensation. Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani, speaking here today, raised two points over which the Centre’s stand and that of a new government could differ: talks with militants and the extent of devolution. The PDP’s manifesto gives priority to talks with militants, an issue on which New Delhi differs. At a press conference to mark three years of the government’s tenure at the Centre, Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani ruled out talks with the foreign militants but said the Government was open to discussions with the ‘‘dissatisfied’’ Indian groups which have taken to arms. Pullback from LoC: Decision on Oct 16 New Delhi: The crucial issue of pulling out the troops from the Line of Control in Jammu & Kashmir is expected to be taken by New Delhi on October 16, during a meeting of the National Security Advisory Board, Deputy PM LK Advani said. And later, speaking to The Indian Express, he said he was aware of the PDP’s manifesto, but added that the PDP alone would not form the state Government and there would be other parties, groups and individuals involved in the governance. The implication was obvious: with the Congress adopting a more conservative approach on talks with militants, it was this basic difference New Delhi would exploit in the days to come. He also spelt out, at the press conference, the Centre’s plan for the establishment of regional development councils for Jammu and Ladakh. The dialogue on the devolution of powers, he said, was linked to relations between New Delhi and Srinagar ‘‘and even between Srinagar and Ladakh and Jammu.’’ All these, according to him, are ‘‘inter-related issues on which the dialogue will continue.’’ Suspended due to elections, the talks between the Centre and ‘‘mainly the elected representatives of people’’ would commence after the new Government assumes office. By extending the scope of the proposed devolution from Srinagar to Jammu and Leh, the BJP has carefully laid a trap for the PDP. The fledgling party would find it indefensible to ask for more rights for Srinagar (the state) and deny the same to Jammu and Ladakh regions, which have long complained of discrimination. The Congress, which owes most of its seats in the new assembly to the Jammu region, would be forced to support the Centre’s case for the constitution of regional development councils. Thus, the BJP, apart from addressing its Hindu constituency in Jammu, would be able to win accolades from the RSS. After all, it would halfway meet their demand for a trifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir. BJP leaders have been in private trying to drive the point home to RSS leaders that a trifurcation of the state is not possible in the near future. Therefore, they have been pressing them to accept the idea of regional development councils for Jammu and Ladakh. Citing the examples of Jharkhand and Uttaranchal, they have been pointing out to them that regional development councils have been the forerunners of statehood.
