The Lok Sabha on Friday gave its nod for the extension of President’s Rule in Jammu and Kashmir by six months from July 3 even as Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted that the Centre was ready to hold Assembly polls in the state as and when the Election Commission (EC) decides.
Shah said that Assembly elections in the state, which isunder President’ Rule since December last year following six months ofGovernor’s Rule since June 2018, were not held simultaneously along with therecent Lok Sabha polls because it was not possible to ensure security of allthe candidates who were expected to participate in the democratic exercise.
“Whenever the Election Commission decides to holdelections in Jammu and Kashmir, polls will be held and the Centre will notintervene. Earlier, EC was controlled by the Congress, but we don’t do thesame,” Shah said while addressing the Lok Sabha.
Replying to a debate on a statutory resolution moved by himto extend President’s Rule in J&K, Shah targeted the opposition Congressfor questioning the government for not holding Assembly elections in the statein the past one year, saying the grand old party had removed elected government93 times in the past.
He also attacked the Congress over Article 370, saying theprovision which granted special status to J&K was still there only becauseof Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of Independent India.
“Of all the princely states that were divided, Article370 applies only to Jammu and Kashmir, which was being handled by Nehru whilethe rest were under Sardar (Vallabhbhai) Patel’s care,” Shah said, addingthat Article 370 was a “temporary provision”.
Shah on Friday moved a statutory resolution in the Lok Sabhato extend President’s Rule in Jammu and Kashmir for six more months with effectfrom July 3.
While tabling the resolution, Shah said that the ElectionCommission had agreed to postpone the Assembly elections and that these will beheld after the upcoming Amarnath Yatra, saying “it is not possible to holdelections in Jammu and Kashmir now.”
After he moved the resolution, the Congress criticised theNarendra Modi-led government for not holding the elections in J&K.
Blaming Nehru for the situation in J&K, Shah said hisgovernment did not need lessons on democracy from the Congress, adding that allthe elections that took place in J&K when the Congress was in power were a”joke” in the name of democracy.
“They are saying we are trampling democracy in thestate. Before this, Article 356 (President’s Rule) has been imposed in thecountry 132 times, out of which 93 times Congress had done it,” Shah said,adding that they (BJP) “never used Article 356 for political gains”.
Digging into the past, Shah said: “In 1953, when ShyamaPrasad Mukherjee went to Kashmir protesting against the two Prime Ministers ina country rule, he was thrown in jail. His death was also not probed. Why? Washe not a senior opposition leader, a leader from Bengal, a former UnionMinister,” Shah asked.
Blaming Nehru for the existence of Pakistan-administeredKashmir (PaK), Shah said, “Who called for ceasefire back then? It wasNehru who did it and gave that portion (PaK) to Pakistan. You say we don’t takepeople into confidence, but Nehru did it without taking the then Home Ministerinto confidence. Don’t teach us history.”
He also said that there was a time when there was no sign ofIndia in Kashmir. “The State Bank of India signboard was seen with a clothcovering the word ‘India’.”
Shah also said that people say there is an atmosphere offear in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Those who are against India should have fear in theirhearts. We are not against the common people of Jammu and Kashmir,” Shahsaid, adding that his government had done a lot of work in the state in thepast years.
Accusing Pakistan of sponsoring militancy in J&K, Shahsaid there was ‘zero tolerance’ towards militancy in the state.
He also said that the Modi government had met all the needsof the security forces battling militancy in J&K.
Speaking about the tough stand the Modi government hadtaken, the Home Minister said: “We know that terrorism in Kashmir stemsfrom Pakistan. We went to their territory and attacked the roots of terrorism.Our government conducted air strike and surgical strike. The record should beclear before the public. No civilians were killed in these strikes,” hesaid.
He also justified the withdrawal of official security tothose who pursued anti-India politics.
“Why was the Jamaat-e-Islami never banned (in Kashmir)?Why was the JKLF (Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front) never banned?
“It was a strange phenomenon that anyone speakingagainst India got security cover in that state. Why should we give security tosuch anti-India people? Those who want to break India have fear in their heartsnow, which will increase in the coming times,” he said.
Shah also said that development was the top-most priority ofthe Modi government. “Even if we have to provide extra, we will,” hesaid.