Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, Aug 17: The much hyped Political Advisory Council, which was likely to be constituted in Jammu and Kashmir after August 15 seems to have hit a roadblock.
Sources told Precious Kashmir that the J&K unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party has opposed the idea of any such political council. “The BJP leaders have conveyed to the party high command that power cannot be handed over to anyone through a backdoor as it will send a wrong message,” they added.
Senior BJP leader and organizational general secretary of the party Ashok Kaul while talking to this newspaper on Monday said, “I don’t see any advisory council being formed in coming days. I believe the proposal has been shelved.”
Asked then how the Centre is planning to revive the political process in J&K, Koul said, “A seasoned politician (LG Sinha), who has also remained an union minister has taken over the reins of the Union Territory. In the coming days he will initiate the political process by taking politicians on board.”
The BJP leader reiterated that the political process will be revived “without setting up an Advisory Council.”
It may be recalled that the proposal to set up the political council headed by Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party president Altaf Bukhari was moved nearly three months ago and it was almost finalized. But the move couldn’t materialize due to the India-China standoff in Ladakh. At that point of time also the BJP President Ravinder Raina had expressed resentment against any such council being formed. It was after his statement the things stopped moving.
Rumours about the Centre mulling to form the Advisory Council once again started making rounds just few days before August 15. Feelers were sent that the council will be put in place soon after Independence Day.
Sources said, “Local BJP leaders in Jammu and Kashmir have once again put their foot down and are insisting that Kashmir based leaders should contest the elections first.”
A politician, who wished not to be named, said, “Centre during the past 70-years gave many leverages to the leaders from the Valley but now the things have changed and so has the system. Having an advisory council at place without kick-starting the democratic process is not a good idea.”
He said, “There are many other ways also through which politicians can make their presence felt on the ground and help the people. Looking for shortcuts to grab the power is not a workable proposal.”
LG Sinha to revive political process without Advisory Council
