INTERVIEW
Dr. JITENDRA SINGH, UNION MINISTER OF STATE, PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
Q: How do you analyse the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, considering it was held after 10 years and its significance in light of the abrogation of Article 370?
A: What we witnessed today in Kashmir is the true ‘mainstreaming’ of democracy…. And the credit for this goes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his inclusive approach…. For the first time, after several decades, there was no separatist slogan, no hartal, no poll boycott call, and the voter turnout was almost as much as the national average. It has been a long journey since the 1950s and 1960s, when the returning officer would reject all nomination papers and just accept one-that of the ruling party-and that candidate would be elected unopposed. From there, we moved to a long spell of terrorism, which lasted more than three decades and saw a limited turnout of 8 to 10 per cent. The hartal call would come from Islamabad and the boycott call from the separatist groups in Kashmir valley, and people would hardly come out to vote. Only a handful of entitled people or families would vote, manipulating a 10 per cent voter turnout to get themselves elected as legislators and MPs and also form Governments generation after generation. Now, it is a true grassroots democracy.
As far as the BJP is concerned, this is our finest- ever performance since independence. Our vote share has increased both in Jammu province and the Kashmir Valley. A lesser-known fact is that even in this Assembly election, the BJP had the largest vote share. We had a vote share of over 25 per cent, whereas the National Conference, though they had more number of seats, had a vote share of 23 per cent or less.
Q: The National Conference and the PDP have raised concerns over Jammu and Kashmir’s Union Territory status. Do you think there will be a clash with the Centre over statehood?
A: First of all, let’s remember that Prime Minister Modi himself announced the restoration of statehood.He said that during the public rally at Bakshi Stadium, Srinagar, and repeated it at the Doda and Jammu rallies. So once the Prime Minister makes a statement, I don’t think there is any need to add to it. The Home Minister, too, has said so in Parliament.
Therefore, what the opposition is trying to do is actually an old trick. They are trying to manufacture a false narrative, wherein they are seen as putting pressure on the Government to give statehood. This is so that when statehood is restored, they might be applauded for it. But with real-time media, I don’t think this old trick is going to work.
Q: How do you see the performance of the separatists, even Engineer Rashid?
A: There are two aspects to it. Both are very heartening. First, all those who raised separatist slogans were trying their luck at the hustings. There were some of them who were former Jamaat-e-Islami members, some former separatists. But they all joined India’s mainstream electoral process. Second, the masses rejected them. Most of them lost the election. This means that the common man walking on the streets of Kashmir, particularly the youth, has moved on. He has seen three generations being sacrificed at the altar of violence over the last three-and-a-half decades and being misled by these hollow slogans of so-called azadi. And, in the last 10 years, he is witness to the umpteen number of opportunities, revenues, startup options unleashed by Prime Minister Modi. And, he doesn’t want to miss the bus. Because the youth of Kashmir is highly aspirational. He wants to move on, be part of India’s growth story and secure a prosperous future for himself.
Q: The people of Ladakh are demanding constitutional safeguards. How are their concerns being addressed by New Delhi?
A: I think what is more important, which is also not often reported, is that this Government, under Prime Minister Modi, addressed the demand of Union Territory for Ladakh. The first time this demand was raised was in 1948 when a Ladakh delegation met Prime Minister Nehru and presented a memorandum. Maybe the almighty wanted Prime Minister Modi to address this. That also reflects the concern and high priority that Prime Minister Modi gives to these farflung regions that had suffered neglect during earlier regimes. I am sure the Home Ministry and the Government are always very sensitively engaging with them.
Q: What led to the BJP’s unprecedented third term in Haryana?
A: I think the biggest takeaway is that the Congress tried to manufacture a false narrative against the Modi Government and the BJP. They tried to mislead the farmers and wrestlers. They tried to misinterpret the Constitution, too. But people today are more aware and no longer agree with what the Congress stands for-corruption, scams, dynasty rule and entitlement. Haryana has given them a befitting reply, which I am sure is also a message for voters across the country.
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