SRINAGAR: After two-day visit of party president Amit Shah to Jammu, the ruling BJP has toughened its stand and decided not to go with narrative of its ally Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Jammu and Kashmir and asserted that there won’t be any talks with separatists unless they are ready to talk within Indian constitution.
“The BJP president Amit Shah during his two-day interaction with the State party leaders discussed in detail the prevailing situation in the Valley,” a senior State BJP leader told New Indian Express.
Amit Shah was in Jammu on April 29 and 30.
The BJP leader said Shah during his interaction with party leaders said the situation is not that bad in the Valley and the State government is in the position to tackle it.
He quoted Shah as saying that there is no need to panic and situation in Valley is being tackled and would be tackled in a right manner by the security forces and the State government.
The BJP president, according to him, said there was need to take hard measures to deal with the situation.
He said wherever tough measures need to be taken should be taken and where situation demands soft approach, it should be followed.
During the meetings, he said, BJP president reiterated that humiliation of security forces won’t be tolerated and they stand by security forces as they are serving cause of the nation in the Valley.
State BJP chief spokesman Sunil Sethi told New Indian Express that Amit Shah during his two-day visit also discussed the party affairs and the Kashmir situation.
“He was in Jammu to strengthen the party and to oversee implementation of the party agenda. There was also discussion on the Kashmir issue,” he said.
Sethi said Shah directed the party ministers and legislators to reach out to people of their constituencies and to people of Valley. “The ministers have been directed to visit their constituencies and Valley once in a fortnight”.
Asked about PDP demand for starting talks with separatists and stone pelters in Valley, the BJP spokesman said both alliance partners in the State have different narratives.
“PDP wants talks with separatists and soft handling of stone pelters but our party perceptive is that there won’t be any talks with separatists unless they agree to hold dialogue within Indian constitution. Talks with stone pelters can’t be held till they have stones in their hands. If they don’t give up stones, then we will have to deal sternly with them,” he said.
Sethi said after two-day talks between Shah and State BJP leaders, the party has decided not to go by the narrative of PDP. “We will be sticking to our own narrative”.
He said central government is also clear on it and has already asserted that there won’t be talks with separatists till they repose faith in Indian constitution.
The BJP spokesman said situation in Valley is not that bad. “If State government is given more time to handle the situation and if we remain with them, then we will be in a position to control the situation”.
He said soft policy should be adopted towards people, who want to talk within Indian constitution. “If they have some issues that can be sorted out but there can be no compromise on national integrity”.
According to Sethi, the party has told the state government to deal with the situation very strongly and sternly.
“The situation is deteriorating because the government is not taking hard measures to deal with the situation. If the situation is dealt with sternly, it (situation) can turn around very soon,” he said.