Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday disapproved comments made by Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed giving credit to Pakistan, Hurriyat and militants for smooth conduct of Assembly polls and emphasised that stray comments should not be distracting from the governance of the State which should be following the mutually agreed Common Minimum Programme.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh similarly told the lok Sabha that the Government did not endorse Sayeed’s controversial statement. While speaking on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address in the Rajya Sabha, Modi said such statements cannot be supported, and his Government follows the policy of zero tolerance for terrorism.
“I want to assure this House and 125 crore people of the country that the Government formed in Jammu & Kashmir is based on the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) and the Government will run on its basis. If somebody makes a statement somewhere and we are forced to respond here, things will not work. The Government will move ahead with the policy of zero tolerance against terrorism and all resolutions passed here (in Parliament) will be implemented in letter and spirit,” said Modi amidst thumping of tables.
The PM said that credit for the successful elections in Jammu & Kashmir goes to the people of the State who removed all doubts from the mind of the international community by turning up in huge numbers with “overwhelming courage and pride” and “put their stamp of approval on what India had been saying all along.”
In a similar vein, Rajnath Singh frowned at the controversial statement of the Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister after an agitated Opposition disrupted lok Sabha proceedings seeking a clarification from the Prime Minister and also wanting a House resolution to condemn the remarks.
Responding to the Opposition’s demand in lok Sabha, Singh said: “There is no question of welcoming such remarks. There is no question of endorsing the CM’s statement.”
Claiming that what the Home Minister has said is the sense of the House, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said: “let us move forward.”
After Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said the Home Minister’s statement reflected the sentiments of the House, the Opposition members calmed down and allowed the proceedings to run smoothly.
The Home Minister said he has already made it clear that the Government and the BJP fully disassociate themselves from Sayeed’s statement and added that the credit for the smooth conduct of J&K Assembly polls goes to the Election Commission, the Army, paramilitary forces and the people of the State.
The House was briefly adjourned twice in the morning as the Opposition, including the Congress and Trinamool Congress (TMC), sought suspension of Question Hour. Opposition members from Congress, Trinamool Congress, the left, JD(U) and RJD rushed into the Well of the House, shouting comments like “the Prime Minister must make a statement” and “bring a resolution condemning Sayeed’s remarks.”
Saugata Roy (TMC) said the Home Minister had claimed on Monday that the Prime Minister told him that J&K Chief Minister did not inform him about Pakistan and Hurriyat. But his (Home Minister’s) statement was at variance with that of the Mufti. He said it seemed that the J&K CM was not telling the truth, and hence he would like the Prime Minister to clear the air.
Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda also spoke on the issue and drew attention to certain reported comments regarding making a memorial for Afzal Guru. “Distancing will not work...House should pass a condemnation,” he said.
He said the Chief Minister should be “reined in” as BJP is an alliance partner in the State Government. The Question Hour resumed after the Home Minister’s statement in the House after two short adjournments.