Srinagar: BJP general secretary Ram Madhav on Wednesday alleged that political parties in Kashmir and their leaders were raking up some issues, including Article 35A, to serve their own political interests and to create a “climate of fear”. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would take “necessary steps” for the benefit of Jammu and Kashmir at an appropriate time.
He was responding to a question at a press conference here on whether the Centre planned to repeal Article 35A of the Constitution, which guarantees special rights and privileges to J&K’s permanent residents.
“The BJP’s stand on it (repeal of Article 35A) is very clear, but it is not the party which is going to decide. The decision will be taken by the Prime Minister and his government. What I can assure you is whatever decision they take, it will be in the state’s interest,” Mr Madhav said.
He alleged that local political leaders were creating an environment of fear for their “selfish motives”. Asked about the deployment of additional 11,000 Central paramilitary personnel in the state, he said: “Steps are being taken by the Centre given the situation here. The security forces being deployed or taken back from J&K... it is a continuous process.”
He added: “Extra forces are brought in for Amarnath Yatra or the elections, like there is going to be block-level elections for panchayats. But linking the forces’ movement with other issues is done for personal interests.”
Hitting out at the BJP’s former ally, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti, he said: “She’s using such language to keep herself politically relevant. To protect their slipping political base, fear is being created among people. We’ve to take forward the work going on in J&K... Assembly polls have to be conducted.”
At the same time, while referring to PDP members abstaining during the vote on the Triple Talaq Bill in the Rajya Sabha, the BJP leader said: “We thank those who remained absent yesterday in Parliament during the triple talaq debate and helped us pass the bill. Just like this, keep supporting Modiji’s good work, and if you cannot do it openly, stay absent.”
