Without mentioning the debate on controversial Article 370, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that the BJP is debating on the future contours of legal and constitutional relationship between Jammu & Kashmir and the Centre.
He categorically stated that borders would not be rewritten and resorting to violence would never culminate into cessation of any part of the country of 1.25 billion people.Jaitley delivered a special lecture titled “Vision Kashmir—Peace, Progress and Prosperity” to a select group of civil society members at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Complex here.
He appreciated Kashmir’s potential to develop and praised the natural resources and gifted hands of Kashmiri artisans.Blaming Pakistan directly for the problems that have erupted in Jammu & Kashmir over the years, Jaitley said Pakistan must understand “once and forever that boundaries between nations cannot be rewritten now.”
He drew comparisons between a few militants and a population of 1.25 billion in India to substantiate that militants do not have potential to secede Kashmir from India.“Those few who believe resorting to violence can result in secession of any part of a country of over 1.25 billion people are badly mistaken,” he said.
He reiterated that Jammu & Kashmir is an integral part of India. “No power on earth can change this fundamental reality,” he said but conceded that the embattled State is plagued with a multitude of problems.
“There are problems and we are ready to discuss and resolve them,” he said.
To prove his point, he elaborated on the recent action against Army personnel who killed two youngsters in a gruesome incident at Chattergam Village on the outskirts of Srinagar. Jaitley was Defence Minister when the incident took place on November 3.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked me to immediately find the truth behind the incident. I found out the truth and let me tell you, I became the first Defence Minister of the country to express regret and apologise for the mistake on my Twitter handle,” he said.
“Within less than a month, those found responsible for the incident were identified and punished,” he added.“We want permanent peace and want Jammu & Kashmir to prosper,” Jaitley said.He highlighted Kashmir’s potential for development.“God has gifted this place to be called the Paradise on Earth,” he said. Jaitley appreciated the large turnout in the first two phases of elections held so far.
Jaitley said that his thinking on Kashmir changed during an interaction with college girls when he was part of a parliamentary delegation that arrived here in the aftermath of 2008 agitation. “The college girls told us that they were being asked to prove their identity at the entrance of college. They wanted this situation to be changed,” he said.