No separate yardstick for separatists joining JK polls: Jitendra Singh
He said Omar Abdullah’s statement on the hanging of Afzal Guru in Tihar Jail in February 2013 was shocking as the UPA government was in power at the Centre and Omar was the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. (Photo: PTI)
As a number of separatists contested the state Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Saturday said those who decide to join the national mainstream should not be deprived of this democratic opportunity.
He also said that the alliance between the National Conference and the Congress is only about power and has nothing to do with national interest.
If a separatist decides to join the national mainstream by participating in elections, should he be deprived of this democratic opportunity?
“(NC founder Sheikh) Abdullah came out in the same manner after 12 years in jail and became the chief minister. We cannot have two different standards,” Singh, the minister of state in the prime minister’s office, told reporters here while answering questions about separatists interfering in the election battle.
On former Prime Minister and National Conference Vice-Chairman Omar Abdullah’s claim that the BJP has struck a deal with some regional parties and independent candidates to be part of the government in JK, the minister said: The BJP does not need proxies to contest elections as we are capable enough to form the government ourselves.
When asked about Omar Abdullah contesting in two seats, Ganderbal and Budgam in Kashmir Valley, Singh said when a person changes constituencies, it means he is in a weak position.
He said Abdullah should be asked why he is contesting from two seats.
You have to prove your democratic credentials and for that you have to stick to your constituency. Changing your constituency means you are on a weak wicket, the senior BJP leader said, adding that he had won the elections for the third consecutive term from Udhampur Lok Sabha constituency and had never thought of changing the constituency.
He said Omar Abdullah’s statements about the hanging of Afzal Guru in Tihar Jail in February 2013 were shocking considering that the UPA government was in power at the Centre and Omar was the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
If the central government took a decision on Guru at that time, it was undoubtedly with the approval of the cabinet. NC President Farooq Abdullah did not object and the then Prime Minister Omar also did not protest against the decision, he said.
He said Omar Abdullah’s claim that he was unaware of Guru’s hanging is misleading.
Questioning the Congress’ stand on Article 370, he said 70 per cent of the young voters in Jammu and Kashmir are keen to respond strongly to the appeasement policies of the National Conference and the Congress in the upcoming elections.
First publication: 08 Sep 2024 | 06:36 am IST