There is no provision in the constitution of India to deal with people pelting stones at armed forces or raising slogans against the country, the union ministry of home affairs has told the Rajya Sabha.
“The Constitution does not have any provision to deal with anti-nationalist elements raising slogans against India, pelting stones on the army and paramilitary forces,” minister of state for Home, Hansraj Ahir, has said, while replying to questions raised by Bharatiya Janata Party member Shamsher Singh Manhas.
Ahir said some residents in Jammu and Kashmir have been “influenced by elements inimical to national interests and such offenders are dealt with as per the provision of relevant laws applicable in the state”.
“Jammu and Kashmir has been affected by militancy and secessionist violence that is sponsored and supported from across the border, for more than two-and-a-half decades. Some local residents have also been influenced by elements inimical to national interest and indulge in undesirable activities,” the MHA reply reads.
Manhas had raised two questions: “Whether there are two kinds of people in Jammu and Kashmir, one nationalists and other anti-nationalists, almost two different ideologies, existing in Jammu and Kashmir?” and “Whether there are provisions in the constitution of India to deal with anti-nationalists raising slogans against India, (resorting to) stone-pelting on Indian army and paramilitary forces, and why government is having such flexible policies to deal with such anti-nationalists in Jammu and Kashmir.”
He had also sought to know “the steps taken by government vis-à-vis his questions.”