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The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly will take up the issue of
withdrawing claim over Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Mr
Ajatshatru Singh, state tourism minister, said today.
The minister said the Assembly may adopt a resolution, giving up
the claim during Budget Session next month.
"The chief minister, Dr Farooq Abdullah's stand on the issue has
the support of the entire Cabinet and the government," the tourism
minister added.
Mr Ajatshatru Singh's statement could heighten the controversy over
PoK because he is not only the scion of the Kashmir dynasty, but
also the son of the former Jammu and Kashmir maharaja, Mr Karan
Singh.
Mr Karan Singh, former Union minister and ambassador to the United
States, heads the committee for greater autonomy to the border
state.
That the state may adopt a resolution on Dr Abdullah's line of
thinking could stir the hornet's nest because every political
party, barring the National Conference, has condemned Dr Abdullah's
open advocacy of secession.
When told that a resolution for secession would contradict the
recent Parliament resolution saying the only unfinished task in
Jammu and Kashmir was the merger of PoK and the state, Mr
Ajatshatru Singh said: "We will discuss it in the Assembly. We
will also have to go to the people. It could take a year."
The minister clarified he wanted a "referendum", and not a
plebiscite, over the issue. Asked if he supported Dr Abdullah's
view that part of his kingdom would be handed over to Pakistan, Mr
Ajatshatru Singh refused to comment.
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