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Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, June 26: Union Minister of State in PMO with independent charge of North Eastern States and Youth Services and Sports, Dr Jitendra Singh while defending Party’s decision to join coalition with People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the State said this does not mean that by doing so BJP has deviated from its principles and ideology inherited from Shyama Prasad Mookerjee and Deendayal Upadayaya . The Minister also ruled out any third party involvement in talks with Pakistan saying dialogue will be held on bilateral basis and no third party is required.
Addressing a programme in connection with ‘Save Democracy and Anti Emergency Day’ at Party’s Shyama Prasad Mookerjee Bhawan here today and later talking to media persons on the sidelines of the programme, the Union Minister said “We follow a policy of Zero tolerance against terrorism and when ever atmosphere of talks is undertaken it will be purely on the bilateral basis and no third party is required. He however, said that India’s policy towards its neighbour follows certain amount of clarity and consistency.
He said BJP should not be apologetic or defensive for joining coalition with PDP and reiterated that Party is committed to serve the people of the State in general and Jammu region in particular.
Maintaining that PDP and BJP had a mandate to form the Government in the State, Dr Jitendra Singh said “if we have not joined the coalition with PDP that would have given an impression that Party is running away from its responsibility and this would have worked against the mandate of people. But at the same time we have not given out duel membership or our principles,’’ he added.
Dr Singh said J&K is the jugular vain of BJP and it is discussed in every where in Party programmes and every fora across the country. Hence Party activists have an added responsibility in this State.
Terming the emergency which was imposed by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during the night of June 25, 1975 to save her authoritarian Government as one of the blackest periods of Indian democracy, Dr Singh said that the six year term of J&K State Legislature is also an outcome of this darkest period.
He said during the emergency through 42nd amendment of Indian Constitution the term of Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies was increased from five years to six years and this amendment was also implemented in J&K by then Chief Minister Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah who tried to behave as more loyal than King and he too increased the term of Assembly to six years.
However, after Janata Party came to power in 1977 the term of State legislatures and Parliament was again reduced to five years by introducing 44th and 45th amendments in Indian Constitution but J&K did not implement this amendment to make the term of State Assembly to five years.
Dr Jitendra Singh expressed the hope that when 73rd and 74th amendments of Indian Constitution are introduced in the State to empower Panchayats and local bodies the 44th and 45th amendments be also introduced to reduce the term of State Assembly to five years.
He said reducing the term of Assembly to five years will continue to be an issue for BJP.
Maintaining that youth is the strength of democracy, he said BJP has no alternative except empowering youth. The other parties like Congress are involved in dynastic politics which is not in favour of democracy and the youth needs to be educated the same.
While recalling the atrocities of emergency Dr Singh said that top class opposition leaders including Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan, Morarji Desai, Atal Behari Vajpayee, L K Advani, journalists like Kuldeep Nayar and many others were put behind bars. The forceful vasectomies were conducted and freedom of speech was snatched, he added.
However, a new leadership emerged in BJP as well as in other parties during this period while referring to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, Bihar Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar, RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav and JD chief Sharad Yadav.
He said let us be pledged to preserve democracy as it is the best form of Government practiced so far but democracy should be based on principles otherwise those who deviate from the principles will face same consequences as were faced by then Congress Government which imposed emergency in the country during 1975.
On yesterday’s Pampore attack in which 8 CRPF personnel were martyred and 21 injured, Dr Singh said, “it is a supreme sacrifice and certainly a huge loss for the Government and the nation itself.”
“We need to take cognizance of this and I am sure that the agencies concerned are taking cognizance of the incidents happening in the recent past few days and would ensure that such things do not happen,” said Dr Singh.
As far as Central Government is concerned, the Union Home Minister had already extended his willingness and readiness to support in dealing with the prevailing situation.
He further said, “there is a foreign mischief involved in the attacks and Pakistan’s involvement has been proved many times, adding, “it is a call for extra caution for all in the backdrop of ongoing tourist season and upcoming Amarnath Yatra.”
He also said that terror is terror and terrorism doesn’t align to any political party, adding, “any political party which tends to fool itself by believing and using terrorism for its personal interest or to settle score to its adversaries, is going to actually cut a sorry figure in the long run.”
He further said “India is proud of its armed forces and Para-military forces. Such a message should not go that we are not concerned about our troops. We are very concerned about them,” he said.
Asked about his reaction on Centre’s move to reduce footprints of security forces on one side and increasing militancy on the other side resulting in demoralization of Army, he said “Centre does not want that moral of the troops go down. The armed forces should get the highest respect and their security is prime.”
“We hope that State Government security agencies take measures to ensure that such incidents are not repeated after going through any negligence in the security setup,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion Speaker State Assembly Kavinder Gupta, who as a student was also jailed from Gurdaspur in Punjab for his links with RSS, said the period of emergency is a black spot on the Indian democracy and the people of the country will never forgive such forces.
He also recalled the struggle launched by the opposition leaders under the leadership of Lok Nayak.
Senior BJP leader and incharge of today’s programme Chander Mohan Sharma, who too was jailed along other BJP and opposition leaders in Jammu, recalled the atrocities committed upon the people in the State during this period. He said struggle will be launched by his Party for 17 people who were put behind the bars during the darkest period of emergency and whom High Court of the State later declared as soldiers of democracy that they be given same status as freedom fighters. Among the 17 leaders who were jailed at that time included RSS stalwarts Dr Om Parkash Mengi and Late Ramswaroop Sharma.
BJP general secretary (org) Ashok Kaul, MLA Rajesh Gupta and Baldev Singh district president BJP Gandhinagar were on dais.
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