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So, Sir, I think this question of autonomy has to be demarcated, and not mixed up with the question of devolution of powers, and devolution of financial resources to the States.

As you know very well, such a proposal had been recommended, on a priority basis, by the Sarkaria Commission. The devolution of powers and devolution of financial resources to the States should not be mixed up with the concept of autonomy. So, I think, what the Sarkaria Commission had recommended will be generally supported and should be generally supported by everybody. But can it mean that, in the concept of autonomy, the Centre will keep with it only four or five subjects, namely, defence, external affairs, communications, railways and so on and all the rest will become the responsibilities of the State? I think, in today’s India, such a concept is not going to be acceptable.

The States being the ultimate agencies with necessary mechanism for implementation of developmental programmes in crucial sectors like education, health and infrastructure development, they need to be given more and more resources. The recommendations of the Eleventh Finance Commission unfortunately fell much short of expectations. The Government has to now examine the recommendations of the Eleventh Finance Commission in totality. More justice and encouragement should be given to the States that are taking good initiatives for development. The development of a State is nothing but the development of the country. To ensure such a development, we have to move forward in the direction of more and more devolution of powers. In our view, it is the decentralisation that will keep us together and not centralisation. I think, this is the message that flows out of the current public debate on Jammu and Kashmir.

SHRI P.H. PANDIYAN: I stand corrected.

Our laws are not applicable to Jammu and Kashmir. Neither the Indian Penal Code nor the Criminal Procedure Code is applicable there. Nor the Indian Evidence Act is applicable there. It has been done wrongly. I would say that that State alone enjoyed the right to be wrong. They have been enjoying this right for the last fifty-two years. We are all citizens of India. There are no super citizens.

There are many States in our country. Why should there be a super State? We are all equal. Amongst the citizens, there are no first-class and second-class citizens in India. But there shall be devolution of powers. Powers are concentrated at the Centre.

हम इससे सहमत हैं और सहमत होने के कारण ही एनडीए ने अपने मैनिफैस्टो में लिखा कि "there is a clear case for devolution of more financial and administrative powers and functions to the States. Therefore, suitable steps will be taken to ensure harmonious Centre-State relations in the light of the recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission." सरकारिया कमीशन को इम्प्लीमेंट करने का दायित्व सरकार ने लिया। इसीलिए असेम्बली के प्रस्ताव को अस्वीकार करते हुए भी हमने इस बात पर बल दिया कि हम चाहे इस प्रस्ताव को स्वीकार नहीं करते हैं लेकिन आप सेंटर-स्टेट के रि-अरेंजमेंट्स के बारे में कोई सुझाव देना चाहें तो दें। आप बताएं कि राज्यों के ये अधिकार होने चाहिएं और विशेषकर जम्मू-कश्मीर के विशेष अधिकार होने चाहिएं क्योंकि उसके विशेष अधिकार संविधान सभा ने मान लिये। हमने कहा कि आप हमें बताएं, हमें उन्हें स्वीकार करने में कोई झिझक नहीं है। हमारी बात जब उन्होंने सुनी तो कहा कि आपने इसको स्वीकार नहीं किया, ठीक है, मेरी समझ में आपकी बात आती है लेकिन इस बारे में चर्चा और हो तो मुझे खुशी होगी। इसलिए जहां तक एटोनोमी का सवाल है, भारत सरकार ने उसे जिस प्रकार से हैंडल किया, वह देश की इच्छाओं को भी प्रकट करता है और साथ-साथ देश की एकता और आवश्यकता को भी पूरा करता है। उसका आखिरी वाक्य है the Cabinet, therefore, decides not to accept the Resolution passed by the Jammu and Kashmir State Assembly on the Report of the State Autonomy Committee. The Government is of the firm conviction that national integration and devolution of powers must go together.