Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Nov 11: Union Minister of State in PMO with independent charge of North Eastern States, Dr Jitendra Singh today lambasted the National Conference (NC) for advocating greater autonomy to the State and said that the party had itself given up the demand of autonomy after its founder leader and former Chief Minister, Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah accepted all provisions of Indian Constitution without any condition, when he took over as Chief Minister of State in 1975 after inking of Beig -Parthasarthy accord.
Talking to reporters at the sidelines of a party meeting here, the Union Minister said the demand of autonomy has been given up himself by Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah 40 years back.
He said Sheikh Abdullah legitimised his acceptance of Central laws later by framing the D D Thakur (the then Finance Minister in Sheikh Gove-rnment) Com-mittee to review all the Central laws after the Committee gave a positive report about the same saying that all the Central laws applied over these years have been beneficial to the people of the State.
Dr Jitendra Singh, while taking a pot-shot on NC president Dr Farooq Abdullah and former Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah for raking up autonomy demand said this demand has been made time to time by the NC leaders suiting their political interests but as has been already made clear that the clock can’t reverse back and the BJP has cleared its stand on the demand after the Atal Behari Vajpayee led Government at Centre had rejected the resolution on autonomy passed by J&K Legislature during the Dr Farooq Abdullah’s Government.
He said those who are saying that they accept Vajpayee doctrine on Kashmir, the Union Minister taking a tough stand retorted that Vajpayee doctrine was rejection of autonomy resolution.
He also criticised the statement of Dr Abdullah for saying that PoK is the part of Pakistan and reminded him the unanimous resolution of Indian Parliament passed in 1994 that the J&K is an integral part of India and only unfinished task before India is to liberate the portion of the State which is under the illegal occupation of Pakistan.
On the recent statement of Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti who has suggested “let us think of any better option than Azadi”, Dr Jitendra Singh said“ I am not sure what exactly she has said. If she has idea which can be better we will discuss it but there can be no compromise on territorial integrity of J&K as it is an integral part of India”.
In response to a statement of Hurriyat leader Abas Ansari that there should be tripartite talks on Kashmir, Dr Jitendra Singh said that Hurriyat leaders are looking towards Pak for guidance. Terming the freedom struggle in Kashmir as farce, he said the separatists in Kashmir are by convenience and not conviction.
“I don’t think this type of freedom struggle was launched any where in the world and the youth of Kashmir are now awaken and it is the aspirational youth who want not to be ignored and take advantage of the developmental activities and progress like youth of the rest of the country.
In response to a question regarding Pakistan Government’s decision to permit the wife of Kulbhushan Jadhav to meet her husband lying in Pak jail, Dr Jitendra Singh said Pakistan’s decision was a reflection of the efficacy of the Indian diplomatic outreach and its acceptance around the world.
“I think this is a compliment to Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. This (development) is certainly a compliment to the efficacy of India’s diplomatic outreach,” he said.
“One of the major achievements of the Modi Government on terror from Pakistan and sponsored-terrorism in Kashmir is that India’s viewpoint is now gaining more and more acceptance across the world, from even those countries which were earlier hesitant or had their own reasons not to accept it,” he added.
Replying to a question on separatists in the Valley seeking Pakistan’s involvement in dialogue process to resolve the Kashmir issue, Dr Jitendra Singh said, the decision to hold talks with the neighbouring country was the prerogative of the External Affairs and Home Ministries.
“None of us has the mandate to decide on that,” he said.
However, he said, the separatists stand exposed before the Valley’s youth, who have decided to become a part of the Indian development journey. He said 19 young boys and girls qualified for IIT from terror-striken districts of Kashmir this year.
“(The separatists) are the same so-called protagonists who say they do not owe allegiance to the Indian Constitution, but their own children are taking maximum benefits out of it.
“Even holding jobs in the administrative services, I am sure the youth of Kashmir today is no longer ready to be taken by this jugglery.
On GST rejig, he said it reflects the “sensitivity” of the Modi Government and it has no hesitation in accepting inputs as the new taxation system is meant for the benefit of common people.
“We have no hesitation in accepting an input because GST, after all, is meant for the benefit and comfort of the masses and therefore their input is equally welcome,” he added.
The Minister was replying to a question about former Finance Minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram’s remark that the Government will be forced to heed the advice of the opposition and experts due to the Gujarat polls next month.
“As far as modifications made by the GST Council are concerned, I think this is a reflection of the sensitivity with which the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Government works… This is the Government which is open to inputs.
“As PM Modi has said, we are not here to run the Government but to run the nation,” Singh said.
Criticising Chidambaram, the Minister said the Congress leader has many things to thank the BJP for.
“Chidambaram should thank the Modi Government for having brought the GST to a logical conclusion and culmination which he could not do during the 10 years of UPA rule. He has many things to thank BJP about,” Singh said.
On Congress vice president, Rahul Gandhi’s frequent visit to poll-bound Gujarat, Dr Jitendra Singh said the more he visits the State, the BJP gets more consolidated there as it exposes the “hollowness” of the Congress leadership.
They (Congress leaders) were somehow “misguided” that they have the support or might get the support of certain communities or business sections, which they have realised is not true.
“They saw it happening in Surat the other day when Rahul Gandhi decided to visit a textile market and was greeted by slogans of ‘Modi, Modi, Modi’,” he said.
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