NEW DELHI, May 21:
The Jammu and Kashmir Government will soon begin discussions with Kashmiri Pandit leaders to ensure their return to the Valley with safety and dignity, BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav today said.
The senior BJP leader, who had played a key role in the formation of PDP-BJP alliance in the State, said the only question on the matter was whether there should be an exclusive township for the Pandits or whether there should be composite townships where the Pandits are in majority.
The decision will be taken after consultations with Kashmiri Pandits which will be done by the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister of the State, Madhav said while speaking at a programme organised by Aaj Tak.
The BJP leader noted that even the PDP manifesto also talks of return of Pandits to the Valley.
He justified the PDP-BJP alliance saying that while it cannot be called a natural tie-up, it was the result of a peculiar mandate, which could have honoured unless the BJP became a part of the Government.
“It’s a governance alliance, not an ideological or political alliance. On issues like AFSPA or Article 370, there is a divergence of views, which we have accepted in our Common Minimum Programme,” he added.
On a question related to RSS body Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh opposing Government’s policies on certain issues, Madhav said that they too had the right to express their views and assured that legitimate concerns would be addressed.
He lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving new direction to India’s foreign policy which focusses on greater engagement with world leaders.
With respect to China, he said now the situation is such that even difficult issues can be discussed.
Madhav said time has come to discuss contentious issues related to border disputes and water sharing with India’s neighbours and this is what the Prime Minister is doing.
On the issue of Ram Mandir, Madhav said the matter is now in Supreme Court and if a solution emerges it will be good. If not, the issue can be resolved through talks.
On a question related to minorities, he said all should be equal and can live with dignity, which is the basic concept behind the idea of Hindu Rashtra.
“Ghar wapsi is part of a exercise which is conversion and there should be a complete debate on it, if needed,” he said while emphasising that there should be freedom and no allurements.
In another interaction at the event, former Union Minister and Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia said his party’s vice president Rahul Gandhi is enthusing new confidence in workers with renewed vigour.
Gandhi, he said, is committed to people’s causes and this is in politics not for any post but to serve the people, Scindia said at the Aaj Tak event.
Hitting out at the Modi Government, he said because of its policies, farmers are in distress and the Government was now conspiring to grab their land. He also took strong exception to “insensitive comments” being made on farmers’ plight.
Scindia also recalled the UPA Government’s schemes like employment guarantee programme, debt waiver to help farmers during its regime. (PTI)
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