Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday submitted the report of the Working Group, set up for strengthening relations between the state and the Centre, to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi.
The Chief Minister apprised Singh of the salient features of fifth Working Group headed by Justice S Sagir Ahmed, retired chief justice of J and K High Court.
The group, constituted by the Prime Minister, has recommended autonomy for the state and said the Centre could consider a proposal in this regard made by the ruling National Conference.
The report said a call needed to be taken on how long Article 370 of the Constitution in its present form, granting Special status for J and K, should continue to remain in force.
The Working Group deliberated on matters relating to the special status of the border state within the Indian Union, methods of strengthening democracy, secularism and the rule of law in the state.
The question of 'Autonomy' and its demand can be examined in the light of the (1975) 'Kashmir Accord' or in some other manner or on the basis of some other formula as the present Prime Minister may deem fit and appropriate so as to restore the 'Autonomy' to the extent possible, it said.
The National Conference is demanding autonomy for the state, including more decentralization of powers and more authority to the state government. Only three departments -- Defence, External Affairs and Currency -- should remain with India, the party says.
The party has said that the autonomy of the state, as it existed pre-1953, should be restored.
The report by the group set up in May 2006 also termed the "self-rule" proposal of PDP as similar to that of National Conference in a wider context.
Basically, it appears to relate to kind of autonomy proposed by National Conference, which requires to be considered by the Central Government, the report said.
On Article 370, it said it is for the people of the state to decide how long it should continue in its present form and when to make it permanent or abrogate it. The matter being 60 years old, should be settled once and for all. PTI
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