Expert Policy Groups to be set up
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 1: The BJP high command has asked the party’s State unit to draft a ‘Vision Document’ for Jammu and Kashmir in three formats-State, region and Department wise within a period of one month as the party so far didn’t have any such document that proposed its solution towards the Kashmir problem in written format while majority of other parties have drafted their documents.
Though ruling BJP is a signatory to `Agenda of Alliance’ (AoA) with its coalition partner, the PDP, it has shunned its core issues in the AoA to form first-ever Government in the State. The BJP would stick to implementation of AoA in the Government but would draft its Vision Documents at three stages, for future.
BJP insiders told the Excelsior that the BJP high command’s direction has been conveyed to all party Ministers and office bearers, besides Intellectuals associated by the Organization, by newly appointed party president, Ravinder Raina.
“Top brass of the party especially the Ministers have been asked to immediately come out with their ‘Vision Documents’ on various Departments, which will be followed by documents on three regions including Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh followed by one comprehensive document, which will outline the party stand on Jammu and Kashmir problem and proposed solutions to it,” the insiders said.
Significantly, the BJP decision to come out with a `Vision Document’ came close on the heels of rants of dialogue in Jammu and Kashmir with Centre Government first announcing conditional ceasefire followed by India and Pakistan deciding to implement 2003 ceasefire agreement and separatists also expressing desire for talks after removal of certain ambiguities.
Ruling PDP has its own document, which proposed `self-rule’ for Jammu and Kashmir though the party has now insisting only on implementation of `Agenda of Alliance’, reached with the BJP before formation of coalition Government in the State while major Opposition, National Conference has “autonomy document”. Separatist and BJP’s ally Sajjad Ghani Lone had already drafted his Vision Document named `Achievable Nationhood’. Some smaller groups have also drafted their documents proposing suggestions on Kashmir solution.
The BJP document would assume significance as the party was in power at both Centre and State and would carry weight in view of its fast expansion across the country. Moreover, it has quite divergent views on Kashmir solution as compared to its coalition partner, the PDP and had always opposed National Conference document of autonomy.
Sources said the Centre Government especially the Union Ministry of Home Affairs headed by Rajnath Singh was also compiling different reports submitted to them by Centre Government’s Interlocutor on Jammu and Kashmir, Dineshwar Sharma, who has carried out number of visits to all three regions of the State, met almost all political parties, various organizations and individuals besides other stakeholders, barring separatists, and gathered their suggestions on working out a solution to the problems faced by the State including the political problem.
Sources said the BJP would have three separate Vision Documents for each region including Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh, which would carry aspirations of the people and local issues region wise. It will also draft the Vision Documents on Department (Ministry) wise and culminate the exercise by drafting one Vision Document for the State.
“The Ministers would work on their Vision Documents. Similarly, work will also be done on region-wise documents while the issues raised in the State document, will be left to the Centre Government for addressing them,” sources said.
Sources said the Vision Document of the State BJP could also be used in election manifesto for next year’s Lok Sabha elections, which are scheduled to be held in April-May followed by the Assembly polls.
The BJP also proposed to establish “Expert Policy Groups’ to keep guiding its Ministers, office bearers and other senior party functionaries in implementation of its already set Agenda. The Groups would be set up soon by the BJP State president Ravinder Raina in consultations with the party high command.
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