NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday said that the central government will give statehood to Jammu and Kashmir after the assembly elections are over. He further assured that the assembly polls would be completed within the SC deadline of September 30.
“I have said in Parliament that we will give the statehood after the assembly elections,” he said in an interview to PTI.
“We have completed the delimitation process. Because the reservation can be given only after the delimitation process is completed. Because we have to know about the status of various castes (to give reservation). That has been done. Lok Sabha election is also over (in Jammu and Kashmir). Next is the assembly election which will also be held. We will complete the process before the Supreme Court deadline,” he added.
‘Merger of PoK is part of BJP’s manifesto’
Reflecting upon the policies of Jawaharlal Nehru government, which according to Shah led to India losing Pakistan-occupied Kashmir(PoK), Shah said that merger of PoK with India forms a part of BJP’s manifesto.
He said that premature ceasefire by the Nehru government in 1947-48 led to India losing part of Kashmir.
“Had the ceasefire been declared four days later, PoK would have been with us,” he said.
He said that merger of PoK was possible only after many serious discussions as “this is an issue which is very important for the country.”
‘Lok Sabha election held in Kashmir because Kashmir’s Constitution no longer there’
The Election Commission announced on Saturday that the three Kashmir valley seats — Srinagar (38.49%), Baramulla (59.1%), and Anantnag-Rajouri (53%) — had the greatest voter participation “in many decades”.
Attributing high voting percentage in Kashmir to the policies of PM Modi’s government, Shah said, “Voting percentage has increased. Some people used to say that people of the valley do not believe in the Indian Constitution. But this election was held under the Indian Constitution because Kashmir’s Constitution is no longer there. It was scrapped. Election was held under Indian Constitution. People who sought a separate country, those who want to go with Pakistan — even they cast their votes overwhelmingly, both at the organisation level as well as individual people.”
“It was a very big victory for the democracy and a big success of the Narendra Modi government’s Kashmir policy, which it has been pursuing for the last 10 years,” he added.
On being asked about why BJP had not field any candidate from Kashmir valley, Shah said, “We will definitely put up our candidates in future. Our organisation is getting expanded and our organisation is under process of strengthening.”
“I have said in Parliament that we will give the statehood after the assembly elections,” he said in an interview to PTI.
“We have completed the delimitation process. Because the reservation can be given only after the delimitation process is completed. Because we have to know about the status of various castes (to give reservation). That has been done. Lok Sabha election is also over (in Jammu and Kashmir). Next is the assembly election which will also be held. We will complete the process before the Supreme Court deadline,” he added.
‘Merger of PoK is part of BJP’s manifesto’
Reflecting upon the policies of Jawaharlal Nehru government, which according to Shah led to India losing Pakistan-occupied Kashmir(PoK), Shah said that merger of PoK with India forms a part of BJP’s manifesto.
He said that premature ceasefire by the Nehru government in 1947-48 led to India losing part of Kashmir.
“Had the ceasefire been declared four days later, PoK would have been with us,” he said.
He said that merger of PoK was possible only after many serious discussions as “this is an issue which is very important for the country.”
‘Lok Sabha election held in Kashmir because Kashmir’s Constitution no longer there’
The Election Commission announced on Saturday that the three Kashmir valley seats — Srinagar (38.49%), Baramulla (59.1%), and Anantnag-Rajouri (53%) — had the greatest voter participation “in many decades”.
Attributing high voting percentage in Kashmir to the policies of PM Modi’s government, Shah said, “Voting percentage has increased. Some people used to say that people of the valley do not believe in the Indian Constitution. But this election was held under the Indian Constitution because Kashmir’s Constitution is no longer there. It was scrapped. Election was held under Indian Constitution. People who sought a separate country, those who want to go with Pakistan — even they cast their votes overwhelmingly, both at the organisation level as well as individual people.”
“It was a very big victory for the democracy and a big success of the Narendra Modi government’s Kashmir policy, which it has been pursuing for the last 10 years,” he added.
On being asked about why BJP had not field any candidate from Kashmir valley, Shah said, “We will definitely put up our candidates in future. Our organisation is getting expanded and our organisation is under process of strengthening.”
