The day after the return of Commander Abhinandan Varthamanto India, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley made a fervent pitch for the people ofKashmir.
“In the entire Kashmir policy we have to carry thepeople of Kashmir with us. Economic prosperity, development has to be for theKashmiri people. Our battle is against separatists and militants. Any policyhas to take care of people,” Jaitley said at the India Today Conclave inNew Delhi.
On whether India will take the lead in de-escalatingtensions with Pakistan, Jaitley said, “India’s position on terrorism willremain unchanged until such time that there are significant steps being takento address terrorism by Pakistan.”
On the BJP’s choice of Mehbooba Mufti’s PDP as n alliancepartner, “It was an unconventional experiment. Role of mainstream partiesin Kashmir has to be encouraged …but I have no hesitation in saying that theexperiment didn’t work.”
On the 2019 elections, Jaitley pointed out the experience ofprevious grand alliances where governments didn’t survive beyond 6-8 months.Jaitley spoke about how India is now becoming a highly aspirational society. Heelaborated that India will be among the top three world economies soon.