Neeraj Rohmetra
JAMMU, Dec 1: In a significant political development, the Centre has taken feedback on Rs 80,000 crores worth package announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and overall situation in Jammu and Kashmir from Governor NN Vohra.
BJP general secretary Ram Madhav, who had cobbled up coalition Government with the BJP bringing the party to power for the first time in Jammu and Kashmir, flew-in here very secretly and drove to the Raj Bhawan at 5.45 pm along with Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh for detailed discussion on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
Madhav, reached here at 2.30 pm by air and returned to New Delhi by train at 7.40 pm. He will brief the top brass of Central Government and BJP on assessment of the situation. Surprisingly, all BJP leaders of Jammu and Kashmir were not aware about Madhav’s visit to Jammu. Both Madhav and Dr Singh declined to share details of the meeting.
Insiders in the BJP told the Excelsior that the Prime Minister wanted thorough assessment of the situation in the State including reaction and use of Rs 80,000 crores worth package announced by him for Jammu and Kashmir on November 7.
Ram Madhav and Dr Nirmal Singh were closeted with the Governor for 55 minutes during which Vohra is understood to have briefed Madhav about political and law and order situation in the State apart from working of PDP-BJP coalition Government.
Political observers said since the Governor is emissary of the Centre, the Government of India wanted detailed view of the situation especially for the Prime Minister, who had announced the package.
“Apart from reaction on the Central package, Madhav also discussed working of the PDP-BJP coalition Government and overall situation-both on political and law and order front with the Governor,” sources said.
The Centre was satisfied with working of the coalition Government but wanted more feedback from the Governor as Parliament was also in the session.
The visit assumed significant as Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has been pitching for dialogue with Pakistan and separatists. The Centre was expected to take a decision in next few days on bilateral cricket series between India and Pakistan at neutral venue of Sri Lanka.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also met his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in Paris yesterday though the official sources had described the meeting as casual.
Mufti Sayeed had already dropped hints that his daughter and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti could succeed him after some time.
Earlier, in the morning, Madhav said in New Delhi that there is “no distance or gap” between ruling coalition partners PDP and BJP in Jammu and Kashmir where Mufti Mohammed Sayeed will last his full term as Chief Minister.
Madhav, a BJP general secretary, who played a major role in forging his party’s alliance with PDP, also sought to scotch speculation about Mehbooba Mufti replacing her father at the helm.
“There is no distance and gap between PDP and BJP. The alliance, the coalition is working perfectly well. There are issues which the two parties together are handling together very well.
“One may have any opinion about the state sitting from here, but in Jammu and Kashmir the Government is trying to function, deliver on its promises to people as per Common Minimum Programme. There is no gap between BJP and PDP,” Madhav, a former RSS spokesperson, said.
Mufti has often dropped hints that his daughter may replace him by hailing her role in building PDP and that such a succession is “part of democracy”. However, Madhav said he was unaware about any such exercise.
Asked if Mufti will head the Government for its full term of six years, Madhav shot back, “It’s like asking whether Modi will remain the Prime Minister for five years. Do you ask this question? He is elected Prime Minister, he will be there. He is elected Chief Minister, he will be there.”
To a question if the alliance Government in the State was working according to the expectations, he said, “Expectations can be very high. But it is working smoothly in the last six to eight months, the understanding between the two sides has improved and there is better cohesion now.”
As far as running of the State is concerned, “both parties are on the same page”, he emphasized.
On the security situation in the State which is allegedly witnessing increased radicalization, Madhav admitted concerns have been expressed in official quarters, including by a top Army commander, but claimed such concerns were not limited to Jammu and Kashmir alone.
“There is this concern that probably some amount of radicalization is happening. There is a concern. That will be addressed together by Central and State Governments. That will be taken care of.
“I must tell you that this issue, this concern, is not limited to Jammu and Kashmir. In several others parts of our country, there is this recruitment, radicalization is happening,” said Madhav.
Insisting that the PDP-BJP Government was not to blame for the reported increase in militancy, he said the State had a long history of insurgency, terrorism and anti-India activities.
Recalling the large-scale violence in 2010, in which 120 people had been killed when the National Conference-Congress alliance was in power, Madhav said such ups and downs keep happening in the State.
“Are you trying to tell me that radicalization is happening only in 2015?… The only thing we want to see is whether this Government is committed to tackling this menace or not. I am saying yes, this Government is committed. Government of the day is seized of the issue and together with the Central Government (will deal with that),” he said.
There is a unique situation in the State and the neighbour is bent on creating disturbances there, he said, apparently referring to Pakistan.
Follow our WhatsApp channel