Union home minister Rajnath Singh Monday said the government of India will be left with no option than to scrap Articles 370 and 35A, which grant special status to Jammu and Kashmir and confer special rights and privileges on permanent residents of the state, if “someone” talks about having a separate prime minister.
“For the past some days, there are talks about a separateprime minister for Jammu and Kashmir and if someone repeatedly keeps sayingthis, then we’ll have no option but to abolish Articles 370 and 35A,” Rajnathsaid, addressing an election rally in Suchetgarh area of Jammu. He wascampaigning for BJP’s Jugal Kishore Sharma, who has sought a second term fromthe Jammu-Poonch parliamentary constituency which is going to polls on April11.
Rajnath’s remarks came days after National Conferencevice-president Omar Abdullah said his party will strive hard for restoring the”autonomy” of Jammu and Kashmir that could include having a ‘sadar-e-riyasat'(president) and ‘wazir-e-azam’ (prime minister) for the state.
“I am surprised and saddened to note that people who haveled Jammu and Kashmir as chief ministers for a long time are raising a demandof a separate prime minister for the state. I would like to hear from theCongress party and other political parties what they think about this demandand whether they accept that the country should have two prime ministers?”Rajnath said.
On BJP’s Kashmir policy, the home minister said: “Jammu andKashmir is hogging the headlines these days. 40 CRPF personnel were killed in amilitant attack in Pulwama on February 14. After that attack, we gave abefitting reply to Pakistan. We are not a weak nation anymore and thegovernment has a very clear policy of zero tolerance for militancy”.
“We will not tolerate those who take up arms. We can go towhatever extent required to give them a befitting reply,” he said.
“I tried my best to reach out to the people of Kashmir. Igave a chance to first-time stone-pelters and withdrew all cases against them.I was even ready to hold talks with separatists. But now enough is enough”.
“Since 2014, India has on the path of growth. We have becomea notable country in the world and will soon figure in top three nations of theworld. But in Jammu and Kashmir, some leaders are pulling our legs,” the homeminister said.
He, however, added that after the governor’s rule in Jammuand Kashmir, the situation has “improved” and the central government “has beenable to implement many welfare schemes”.