Mainstream parties have vested interest in continuance of terrorism: Dr Jitendra

Union Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh during a debate in Lok Sabha on Friday.
Union Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh during a debate in Lok Sabha on Friday.

Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, June 28: Lambasting the mainstream political parties in Kashmir including National Conference (NC), Congress and PDP, Union Minister of State in PMO with independent charge of North Eastern States, Dr Jitendra Singh today said that they have a vested interest in continuance of militancy in the State to become the beneficiary of low turn out of votes.
Participating in a debate in Lok Sabha on the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill 2019 and the statutory resolution for six-month extension of President’s rule in the State from July 3, the Union Minister said not only among separatists but in some mainstream parties there is a vested interest in continuance of militancy in Kashmir and they want to become beneficiaries of low voter turnout. “If the elections are held today and there is a good turn out of votes these parties will face difficulty”, he added.

Click here to watch video
Turning tables on both NC and Congress for accusing BJP of increasing violence and militancy related incidents in Valley since 2014, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the turmoil in Valley was the result of cumulative blunders made by Congress since 1947 known as Nehruvian blunders.
“You handed over us the cumulative blunders done by Congress since 1947 known as Nehruvian blunders”, Dr Jitendra Singh said while turning towards Congress members.”If then Prime Minister had allowed Sardar Patel to handle the Jammu and Kashmir as he handled the rest States of the country, situation in J&K will have been altogether different and PoJK would also have been part of India”, he added.
Holding Congress-NC responsible for the present turmoil in the State, he said the situation created by the two parties in 1987 was a reason for prolonged spell of militancy in the State which we are facing today.
While refuting the opposition allegations that during BJP rule terrorist violence increased in the State, the Union Minister said the Amarnath Andolan was held when there was Congress Chief Minister in the State over the allotment of a piece of land to the holy shrine. Again there was a long spell of violence in 2010 when there was NC -Congress rule in the State, he added.
The Union Minister while making a scathing attack on both Congress and (NC) recalled the role of two parties and disservice done by them to the democracy since 1947. He said in 1947 Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah was installed as Prime Minister of J&K and in 1953 he was jailed. Later in 1983 Dr Farooq Abdullah was installed as Chief Minster of the State and then over thrown some months back and replaced by his brother in law G M Shah.
He, while referring to recent speech of MP from Srinagar, Dr Farooq Abdullah who had said had his father not been there the J&K would have not been part of India this time, Dr Jitendra Singh questioned that what happened to late Abdullah who suddenly changed his mindset after being jailed in 1953 and then advocated for plebiscite, referendum and right to self determination.
He alleged that NC and Congress are themselves responsible for fiddling with the special status of J&K and BJP had nothing to do with it. The NC talked of special status when it suited to it and the party was exploiting the masses on the issue.
Dr Jitendra Singh, while referring to black law of emergency imposed by then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi in 1975 said the term of Lok Sabha and State Assemblies was increased through a Constitutional amendment from five years to six years and the NC which is talking of special status during the regime of Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah implemented the law in J&K as it suited the party. But later when Morarji Desai Government was voted to power in 1977 elections it through another Constitutional Amendment reverted the term of Lok Sabha and Assemblies from six years to five years but the then NC Government led by Sheikh Abdullah did not implement the law by taking advantage of special status as reverting the term of Assembly to five years did not suit the party, the Minister added.
He said that likewise Constitutional 73rd and 74th amendments were not implemented in the J&K giving special powers to Panchayats and local bodies which was made during Rajiv Gandhi’s Government by the NC -Congress alliance taking the advantage of special status.
He said to examine whether the Central laws implemented in the State since 1953 were in benefit of the people, a Committee was framed by Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah under the name of D D Thakur Committee and it in its report had said that all these laws were beneficial for the people of the State.
Defending the alliance of BJP with PDP in 2015, Dr Jitendra Singh said that the same was dictated by the mandate of the people as no party came forward to form the Government at that time and “to discharge our political responsibility we joined hands with PDP by framing an Agenda of Alliance”.
“But when we came to know that the people of the State are not in favour of the alliance we did not lose a single minute to leave it by respecting will of the people”, he added.
He said “had not we joined the coalition we would have faced the allegations that party failed to fulfill its political responsibility and so we framed agenda of Alliance and agreed to disagree”.
Dr Jitendra Singh also took the Congress and NC to task for discrimination with the people of International Border for 50 long years while granting three percent reservation to people of LoC. He said the two parties discriminated with the people and BJP atoned the sins made by them ending the 50 year old discrimination with these hapless people.
Dr Jitendra Singh also held NC and Congress responsible for plight of West Pak refugees who were denied citizenship rights since 1947 and alleged that the two parties failed to solve the problems of PoJK refugees saying that these refugees were altogether ignored. He termed the migration of Kashmiri Pandits the biggest migration in the Sub Continent after the partition of India in 1947. He said the Pandits were forced to leave the Valley and asked “are not they stake holders of Kashmir while you are advocating for holding talks with separatists.”?
He alleged that opposition parties were insensitive to this community and when they were forced to leave the Valley a propaganda was made that they have come in search of plots.
Jitendra Singh said that militancy was on its way out in Jammu and Kashmir and the youth of the State have already joined in India’s journey for progress and development.
”Today, militancy is on its way out. It is in its last phase. After the Balakote air strike, the morale of armed forces have gone up,” Jitendra Singh added.
He said Prime Minister, Narendra Modi changed the narrative and approach towards militancy and the silver lining is that the youth of Jammu and Kashmir has moved on,” .
Dr Singh said 35-40 students of the State cleared IITs and 50 cleared NEET exams for medical entrance. ”Today 70 per cent population was below 40 years of age and youth of Kashmir has already joined the journey of India’s progress,” he said.
Rebutting the ‘serious allegation’ that BJP does not want Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, Dr Singh said,” We are a party with a difference. We are a 24X7X365 party. We have a tradition and work in an organised manner. We don’t interfere with the works of Election Commission.”
Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir were the prerogative of the Election Commission, they will take inputs and proceed accordingly.
“Some political parties accuse the BJP that it does not want Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. We respect the Election Commission and CBI. It was the decision of the EC to not conduct Assembly elections now in Jammu and Kashmir due to security related issues,” he said.
He said that those parties which did not participate in the Panchayat and Municipal elections in Jammu and Kashmir are talking about automony of the State now. He accused these parties of denying the autonomy to Panchayats and Local bodies but want the autonomy for themselves and their dynasties.
Appealing the political parties not to do politicking on terrorism, he said” terrorist is a terrorist and that is the bottom line.Let us leave it to the discretion and wisdom of the security agencies to decide how to deal with them,” he added.
“Those who seek the aid of terrorism for political gains are liable to be consumed by the same terrorist,” he warned.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here