NEW DELHI/SRINAGAR, May 27:
A Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Dr Jitendra Singh today kicked up a controversy with his remarks that efforts will be made to “convince” the “unconvinced” on abrogation of Article 370, evoking sharp retorts from J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and PDP.
Lok Sabha member Jitendra Singh said Government is open to debate merits and demerits of Article 370 that gives special status to J&K.
He said that efforts would be made to “convince” the “unconvinced” by holding contact programmes with every section of society in the State on the issue.
57-year-old Singh, who was elected from Udhampur Lok Sabha seat, said BJP was working “very professionally” on this issue and has been calling meetings in the Kashmir Valley.
“We have succeeded in convincing some of them (on repealing Article 370),” he told reporters after taking over as Minister for State for Department of Personnel and Training.
However, his statement drew angry reaction from Omar who shot off his tweets saying Article 370 was the “only Constitutional link” between the State and the rest of the country.
Omar said “Mark my words and save this tweet – long after Modi Govt is a distant memory either J&K won’t be part of India or Article 370 will still exist.”
He wondered over the statement about Article 370 coming so soon. “So the new MoS PMO says process/discussions to revoke Article 370 have started. Wow, that was a quick beginning. Not sure who is talking.”
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said the Prime Minister and the BJP leadership should rein in Singh before his utterances about revocation of Article 370 of the Constitution cause serious damage.
Late tonight, the Minister issued a statement saying he has been “misquoted” in media reports.
“I seek to clarify that the reports in the media about my statement on Article 370 are misquoted. I have never said anything quoting the Honourable Prime Minister. The controversy is totally baseless,” he said in a statement.
Government sought to downplay the controversy. “We will take a call…You saw what we said during the (election) campaign… The Government will take a structured view on this,” Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters here after Cabinet meeting in response to a question.
“If we do not have debate and discussion how would you be able to tell those who have been unable to understand what they have been deprived of on account of Article 370,” Dr Singh said.
Singh said Article 370 was more of a psychological barrier than a physical one.
Singh, a doctor by profession, noted that BJP has won half of the six Lok Sabha seats from Jammu and Kashmir. “You see BJP has won half of the seats in Parliament from J and K. While BJP won three seats, PDP bagged the remaining three.
“If you take voter account, we have more that 50 per cent vote share, he said.”
Singh said his party has been inviting all stakeholders to get on board and succeeded to a greater extent in the Valley particularly with the youths.
He said people in J and K need to have an outlet. “A mainstream opposition outlet to dissent which we would not stifle because if you stifle that, that will lead them to an undemocratic outlet.
“But within that framework we also want to explain to them how they have been deprived of enormous advantage which the other States of this country have enjoyed because they were not under the constraint of Article 370. Please remember that Article 370 off late has been more of a psychological barrier than a physical barrier,” he said.
Singh said the BJP has already gained considerable success through its discussion with all stakeholders on Article 370.
“We have tried to interact with them (stakeholders) through media, through discussion and through seminars. We have already gained considerable success in this,” the Minister said.
Asked whether discussions have been held with Kashmiri youths and separatists, Singh said the process is already on.
“No youth has separatist written on his forehead. We have tried to convince the youths of Kashmir that look here if you have a grievance against the Government of India, against Government, that does not necessarily make you a separatist and if it is done then it is unfair to them,” said Singh.
Singh said J and K has come out of a difficult phase of militancy which was there for last 20-25 years and it appears that there is normalcy.
“Our efforts will be to support it. The youth section there is demoralised due to unemployment and many other reasons, due to militancy.
“Our efforts would be to ensure sufficient opportunities of employment to them. For example, Narendra Modi has clearly said that he will take forward the initiatives started by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee with regard to J and and K,” he said.
The Government will work towards “restoring” the credibility of CBI and it will be given functional autonomy to ensure complete independence in its operations, Singh said.
“We are of the considered view that all the organisations including the CBI were conceived with a noble objective that they would function as an independent body and act as perhaps the last resort to seek justice…
“Therefore, we would like to restore the credibility of CBI in order to ensure that people of this country have confidence that at least they have one agency which would be giving them a fair deal,” Singh said.
The Ministry acts as nodal department to provide administrative support for functioning of the CBI.
To a question as to how would he allay the notion of referring Central Bureau of Investigation as ‘Congress Bureau of Investigation’, he said the Government will “not have any personal agenda” with regards to the agency’s working.
“Narendra Modi Government would ensure whatever independence they (CBI) need to discharge its function. We will try to give that (whatever autonomy may require) so that the objective by which the agency has been formed do not take back seat,” said Singh.
He said the Government was committed to provide maximum governance and minimum Government.
“(We would give) the Government which appears to be working for the interest of common people of this country and not intimidated by any political interference,” the Minister said.
Singh said all important work including appointment of chairperson and members of anti-corruption body Lokpal would be taken up by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“One by one, each of the subject will be scheduled to be taken up by the Prime Minister and whatever decision is taken you would know in course of time.
“The decision would be taken up purely on the basis of objectivity and not on any subjective considerations of the political parties in form,” he said.
Singh in his interaction with media persons mentioned that the Ministry deals with important institutions and their smooth functioning is to be ensured in a transparent manner.
The Minister also stated that the formula of “Maximum Governance and Minimum Government” is the requirement of time and for the good governance it is to be ensured that all round progress is made with the co-operation of everyone in the country.
The Minister was later briefed by S K Sarkar, Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training and Sanjay Kothari, Secretary, Public Grievances and Pensions.
Senior officers of the Ministry were also present in the briefing meeting. (PTI)
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