SRINAGAR: Union Minister Arun Jaitley today said the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was following the path of “humanity” shown by Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Jammu and Kashmir, citing example of Budgam firing incident in which nine soldiers were indicted by the Army.
Jaitley said that, those few who believe resorting to violence can result in secession of any part of a country of over 1.25 billion those people are badly mistaken. The minister said that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India and no power on earth can change this fundamental reality.
Yes, there are problems and we are ready to discuss and resolve them, he said.
“Since the Modi government came to power, it has been our policy that if injustice has been done, the matter will be investigated and (if found true), it will be set right,” the Union Finance Minister and top BJP leader said during an interaction with civil
society organised by the party in Srinagar.
Jaitley said while some people, including the opponents of BJP, were raking up Vajpayee’s statement that issues of Jammu and Kashmir will be resolved within the ambit of ‘insaniyat’ (humanity), the present government at Centre was following it.
Jaitley further said that he took charge as the defense minister when two youths were killed in Chattergam area in army firing. Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked me to immediately find out the reality. I found out the truth and let me tell you, “I investigated the incident from both sides. Within two hours, I sent out a message in twitter as the defence minister, condemning the incident and apologising for it. This has happened perhaps for the first time in the history of India,” he said.
Jaitley said that within less than a month, those found responsible for the incident were identified and punished.”
“Next day, we told the army to send officials to the families of the deceased youth and investigate the matter with honesty. Perhaps for the first time, the army has found its personnel guilty in such a short time,” he said.
Jaitley said the change in thinking came after his interaction with a college girl in 2010 when he was part of the All Party Delegation that visited Kashmir at the peak of summer agitation that year.
“She told us that she is a citizen of the country and does not support the separatists. But she also said that she did not want to see policemen outside her house or being asked to show identity cards several times en route college,” he said.
Jaitley said people living anywhere in the country should enjoy same rights.
Elaborating on ‘insaniyat’, Jaitley said it does not each anyone to resort to terrorism or work against the nation.
“Now insaniyat does not say we indulge in terrorism, insaniyat does not teach us to take to a gun and kill the others, insaniyat does not say that security forces kill an innocent in retaliation,” he said.
“Insaniyat does not say that a common man, who has been wronged, should not be heard. Insaniyat does not say that one should work to break this country,” he said.
Jaitley said ‘Insaniyat’ envisages a civilised society.
“India is the biggest democracy in the world where everyone enjoys equal rights. If anyone violates these rights, there will be action against the violator,” he said.
NO REDRAWING OF BORDERS
Stating that the Government of India will never accept terrorism and violence, Jaitley asked Pakistan to understand once for all that boundaries cannot be rewritten now.
He also said that the Jammu and Kashmir is the integral part of India and if separatists shun the path of violence, the BJP government will welcome them.
Jaitley said that Pakistan needs to understand that Jammu and Kashmir is the integral part of India and should understand that no power on earth can change this fundamental reality. Pakistan should know the economic and military power of India and it cannot touch even a single piece of land here he said and added that they should keep it in their mind once and forever that boundaries between nations cannot be rewritten now.
The BJP leader also referred to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s statement that countrys neighbor cannot be changed, but relations between nations can be improved.
He said that people here want safety and prosperity. Some people remained busy in discussing what articles are in the centers constitution and in the states, but what I observe is that the people are least bothered about the constitutions. They are concerned with their safety and want the peace and progress of Jammu and Kashmir, he said and added that there are problems and we are ready to discuss and resolve them.
He said that violence cant be used to bring a change. In my thinking that a country where 1/6th worlds population lives and which has military and economic power too, terrorism, insurgency or violence cannot be used to bring in a change, he added.
He said that the global appetite to accept those who indulge in violence is now over, it is not acceptable. In our countrys capability to fight the gun wielding and save the country from them, has also increased. Those who have taken to gun will not succeed in their endeavour, said Jaitely.
We want permanent peace in the state and want Jammu and Kashmir to prosper.
Jammu and Kashmir, and especially the Valley, has tremendous power to prosper as God has gifted this place to be called the paradise on earth. This power needs to be harnessed for all sorts of tourism, including leisure, adventure and religious tourism, he said.
He said the local craftsmen here have unique talents which have been accepted by the nation and the world too.
He said that people have rejected the boycott call and have come in large numbers to cast their vote.
I congratulate the people for turning up in large numbers to vote in the assembly polls. People have sent a message to the world that they believe in democracy and not the violence.
He said that it is unfortunate that from the last couple of decades the common man suffered the most due to the insurgencies, terrorism and the violence. But people should know that now the GOI will not allow any element to disrupt the peace and normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir.
Jaitley who was on a day long visit to Kashmir take many questions from the delegates. The response by the state government in the recent floods was poor .Kashmiri people have suffered immensely due to the floods and many are still facing the problems. But now common people have decided to prefer democracy to solve their problems, he said and added that the BJP government fully understand them.
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