‘Handful of people can’t play with career of youth’
Despite 370, 35A, J&K behind in development
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 4: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said that Jammu and Kashmir hasn’t been able to join the rank of developed States despite Articles 370 and 35A even though the Central Government has made maximum possible funding to the State.
“Jammu and Kashmir has Articles 35A and 370, they got maximum funding from the Central Government. But still Jammu and Kashmir hasn’t joined the queue of developed States though they have many natural resources. Even the State has been run from the people there. I want an answer to this from the mainstream parties there,” Rajnath told a national daily in an interview.
Though the Home Minister didn’t directly blame Articles 370 and 35A for lack of development, the indications were obvious.
“Why hasn’t Jammu and Kashmir been able to join the ranks of developed States despite Articles 370 and 35A. Who is responsible for that? The Central Government has made maximum possible funding available for Jammu and Kashmir. Who is responsible for this (backwardness)? I want to ask leaders from there,’’ Rajnath said and called for a debate on this.
However, he promised that the Central Government will do whatever necessary for development of the State.
Rajnath’s statement comes close on the heels of BJP president Amit Shah’s stand that the BJP will abrogate Articles 370 and 35A in 2020 after attaining majority in the Rajya Sabha. The statement had drawn strong reaction from National Conference, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and People’s Conference.
Rajnath declared turmoil in Kashmir will end and that the Central Government was on track to end it for all time.
“How long can a handful of leaders keep betraying the people in Kashmir and play with their future. We will not allow this. We are going to develop Kashmir. Kashmiris have a distinct identity in the country. They have talent,’’ he said.
However, the Home Minister declared that action is being taken again those trying to foment sense of alienation among the people in Kashmir at the behest of Pakistan and those promoting terrorism.
He promised a beautiful dawn in Kashmir saying dawn is not far away from the track which the Central Government has undertaken.
“There will be a dawn at the end of the night. It’s nature’s eternal law,’’ he said.
On local youth taking to guns, the Home Minister said the Government has shown utmost sympathy with the youth earlier.
“We demonstrated sympathy with stone pelters earlier. I had consented to waiving off cases against 9,000-10,000 first-time stone pelters. But terrorism is a global phenomenon,’’ he said.
The Home Minister had a word of warning for the Kashmiri separatists.
“Separatists there will have to mend their ways and cooperate in the development of Kashmir. Whatever we will do will be in the best interests of Kashmir,’’ he said.
Responding to a question on whether February 14 Pulwama terror attack was an Intelligence failure, Rajnath didn’t agree saying it was difficult to predict these kind of attacks.
“We can’t say it was because of an Intelligence failure. The entire issue is being investigated. It’s not appropriate to blame Intelligence failure beforehand. Let the investigation get over before arriving at any conclusion,’’ he said.
On invoking Pakistan in the election campaigns, the Home Minister said it was in 2014-15 that he had given free hand to the Border Security Force (BSF) in dealing with Pakistan.
“My instructions were clear to the BSF. Don’t start fire against Pakistan, but don’t hold your bullets in retaliation if they fire one,’’ he recalled.
On Balakote air strikes by the Indian Air Force, Rajnath said it was a common sense that people of other countries hesitate from acknowledging rising power of a country.
“They (the Pakistan establishment) will keep creating doubts. But unfortunately, some Opposition parties in India too want to see the dead bodies of killed militants. The brave hit and move on. They don’t look behind to count the casualties,” he added.
Responding to the Opposition charge that the Government was indulging in politics over Balakote air strikes, Rajnath said if the opposition was so keen to see dead bodies of the militants, they should have gone there and seen for themselves. “Now, even Pakistan would have disposed of the bodies,’’ he added and pointed out that this was the first time when India gave a befitting reply with a target hit based on credible intelligence.
The Home Minister wanted to know whether the Congress want the Government to sit silently like they did after the 26/11 Mumbai attack.
“What suggestion does Congress have?”, he asked.
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