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We have all been talking about Sarkaria Commission, the devolution of powers to the States. If autonomy is going to be limited to semantics then it is a different thing. If autonomy is going to be considered in relation to the specific proposals made in that resolution then it is a separate thing and it has been rejected by the Cabinet because some of those things that have not been mentioned, like the procedure for election. We follow a form of democracy, which has a uniform connotation in our country and anything that goes against that is not acceptable. They have recommended that the Election bid of our, election commissioner and so on should not be overseeing them, it is not acceptable. There are many other things that are not acceptable.

My emphasis is on article 370. The Cabinet talked about devolution of power by quoting NDA manifesto that it is not a matter of autonomy as such; it is a matter of devolution of power. That is what the Cabinet decision rejecting the resolution has said.

THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI L.K. ADVANI): We have not used the word `reject’.

SHRI PURNO A. SANGMA (TURA): Yes, they did not use the word `reject’, but the sum and substance of it is rejection.

SHRI L.K. ADVANI: We have said `we cannot accept it’.

SHRI PURNO A. SANGMA : That is why, I am saying that they have very calculatedly and very wisely spoken about the devolution of power.

SHRI SOMNATH CHATTERJEE : Has he got a copy of that Cabinet decision?

SHRI PURNO A. SANGMA : No. I am talking from the newspaper reports.

SHRI L.K. ADVANI: It has appeared in the Press.

SHRI PURNO A. SANGMA: Yes, it has appeared in the newspapers saying that it is a matter of devolution of power and not merely of autonomy. That is what the sum and substance of the decision.

Sir, why is everybody clamouring for it? All the State Governments are clamouring for more and more powers. This is not a sudden development. This is not something that has emanated from the Resolution of the Jammu & Kashmir Assembly. It is because in a country where there are so many differences in language, in culture, in religion, on emphasis, on problems and on issues, there is bound to be different emphasis or different problems of development in different parts of the country.

18.00 hrs. Nobody can deny that after 52 years of Independence we have a totally imbalanced and uneven development in the country. There are areas and areas in the country where obligations have been enforced on the State Governments without providing the wherewithal. Every meeting of the National Development Council has been marked with the unanimous demand of the Chief Ministers of the States – I am sure Sharadji as a Chief Minister, in spite of being the Chief Minister of the financial capital of the country, also made this demand – for more and more devolution of power and resources. Therefore, these are not empty matters. These are not empty issues raised for the first time today in connection with the resolution for autonomy passed by Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.