Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Mar 27: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has been ruling both the Centre as well as State, the latter in alliance with People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has diluted its stand on abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution of India, which grants special Status to Jammu and Kashmir, by giving a statement in the Parliament today that there was no proposal currently to scrap the Article.
Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir informed the Lok Sabha today, in response to a written question tabled by BJP Lok Sabha member from Karnal (Haryana), Ashwini Kumar that “there is currently no proposal to scrap Article 370, which gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
Ashwini Kumar had asked whether the Government was committed to scrapping Article 370 of the Constitution.
“There is currently no such proposal under consideration of the Government,” Ahir said in his one-line reply in the Lok Sabha.
Ever since its formation, the BJP had always made abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution of India, as part of its election manifestoes, both at the Centre as well as State elections. All its top leaders had repeatedly been batting for scrapping the Article.
However, the ruling party chose to take U-turn on the scrapping of Article 370 while giving reply to the question of its own party MP.
According to sources, the BJP after entering into an alliance with the PDP had decided to keep some of the “controversial issues’’ on the backburner and adopted Agenda of Alliance.
Replying to another question in Lok Sabha, Ahir said the Government of India has taken into account the recommendations of an Expert Committee to explore other possible alternatives to pellet guns as non-lethal weapons.
“The Government of India had constituted an Expert Committee on 26.07.2016 to explore other possible alternatives to pellet guns as non-lethal weapons. The Committee has submitted its report and the recommendations have been taken into account by the Government for appropriate implementation,’’ Ahir said in the written reply.
He said 3 days special training for use of less lethal weapons/ ammunitions is conducted in which theory/ practical on riot drill, weapons/ equipments, law & order in Jammu and Kashmir, firing practice with less lethal weapon/ equipment are imparted.
“Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been adopted by Jammu and Kashmir Police including law enforcing agencies for dispersal of unlawful assembly and as per the SOP less lethal weapons should be used as per the established use-of-force policy. The use of force is guided by objectives of restoring peace, dispersal of violent unlawful assembly with use of such force as is required to minimize the casualty but without compromising safety for law enforcement elements and peace loving citizens. The hierarchy of usage of forces inter-alia includes use of rubber bullet/ plastic bullets,’’ Ahir said.
In a separate question on statements made by the Centre’s interlocutor Dineshwar Sharma on violence in Jammu and Kashmir, Ahir said Sharma had recently visited border areas in view of recent cease-fire violations and suggested some measures for the local population. These included shifting residents and constructing bunkers.
The question was asked by Congress’ Jyotiraditya Scindia and Gaurav Gogoi.
Ahir said the Government was keen to bring peace in the State and was ready to hold dialogue with all sections of society who shun the path of violence.
The Government has also continuously encouraged policies to bring youth to the mainstream. These include providing employment opportunities to wean them away from militancy, he said.
Only today, Centre Government’s Special Representative on Jammu and Kashmir, Dineshwar Sharma reached Kashmir, where he visited Bandipora district. He would be in the Valley for three-four days inter-acting with delegations and seeking their view point on resolution of the problems. He is also scheduled to visit Jammu after Kashmir tour. Early this month, Dineshwar had paid four-day exclusive visit to Ladakh region covering both mountain locked districts of Leh and Kargil.
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