'GOI needs to engage those who don't see sol' in Constitution'

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Press Trust of India Srinagar
Last Updated : Oct 21 2015 | 8:48 PM IST
The government of India needs to engage people who do not see a solution within the Constitution of India, former J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said today.
"We need to engage people who don't see a solution within the Constitution of India and find a solution," he told a delegation of the Canadian High Commission in Delhi.
The delegation was led by Jess Dutton, Deputy High Commissioner of Canada, who is on an official visit to Jammu and Kashmir.
Stating that Jammu and Kashmir accession to India will not change, Omar, the working president of National Conference, said "The accession was on the basis of an understanding. While all other states acceded and then merged but Jammu and kashmir acceded on an instrument of an understanding that was based on defence, foreign affairs, communication and currency.
"As such everything else would be the domain of the state but over the time this has been whittled down."
The leader said the National conference road map is the only way forward on this issue.
"Our road map is clear, that you can't have a one-sided agreement, wherein Jammu and Kashmir continues to remain a part of India but the terms on which the accession took place..You distorted," he said.
"Therefore, they need to restore to the fullest extend possible the autonomous position that existed between Jammu and Kashmir and the rest of the country," he added.
On addressing the vexed issue on an international front, Omar told the Canadian delegation that "for a solution to take place we will have to ensure that neither side claims victory."
"We will have to ensure more freedom of movement and and allow greater movement of goods across the border, to start with," he said.
Showing concern over the environment across the country, the former Chief Minister said the situation is "not the best we would want to find ourselves in".
"Given the President of India has spoken thrice in three weeks, which is extremely unusual, is an indication of the gravity of the situation," Omar said.

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First Published: Oct 21 2015 | 8:48 PM IST

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