Willing to make any sacrifice for country, Modi tells House
Amid an outrage in both the Houses of Parliament over the release of separatist hardliner Masarat Alam, the Government on Monday made it clear the decision of J&K CM Mufti Mohd Sayeed without the Centre’s consent was “unacceptable” and it would take action after a response from the State Government to some clarifications it had sought over the matter.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the lok Sabha that his Government won’t tolerate any compromise with the nation’s integrity and was even willing to make any sacrifice for national integrity. But at the same time, he made a counter against the Opposition by asking it not to teach them (BJP) patriotism.
For his part, Home Minister Rajnath Singh — who made statements in both the Houses — asserted that “nobody, howsoever powerful,” will be allowed to play with national integrity. He made no bones about the fact that the BJP did have “ideological differences” with the PDP but not before seeking to turn the tables on the Congress by pointing out how the Congress-NC State Government had not referred Alam’s detention case to the State Advisory Board and kept it pending for three and half months.
He also informed the Parliament that as per the J&K Home Department, Masarat had 27 criminal cases pending against him and the Centre will not shy away from issuing the strongest of advisories to the J&K Government once the sought clarifications are answered.
With the Opposition in both the lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha terming Masarat’s release as “anti-national”, seeking the PM’s clarification and daring the BJP to pull out of the Mufti-led Government on the issue, Modi intervened during Rajnath Singh’s statement in the lok Sabha to say he too shared the “outrage” of the House.
“I assure the country and the House that whatever is happening there (in J&K), the Union Government was neither consulted not informed... Government does not accept such action...
In one voice, we express our anger against those supporting separatists and misusing the law. In the coming days, we will take whatever action is required and we are committed to the nation’s integrity,” Modi said.
Modi told the Opposition that they may attack the BJP politically for having a tie-up at some other time but “on these issues of national integrity, a message should not go out that we are divided.” He also shot back saying, “Don’t teach us patriotism.... the BJP has no reason to keep silent as we are the people who sacrificed Shyama Prasad Mukherjee.”
In the Rajya Sabha, the Opposition thwarted the Government’s attempts to introduce the crucial mines and minerals amendment Bill by creating a furore over why Modi did not speak in the House on the issue like he did in the lok Sabha. The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day as a result. Though Modi was present in the Upper House during the discussion, the Government said he did not speak as the Opposition members never asked him to.
Replying to the Opposition’s attack that there may be a hidden agenda, Singh said, “Our agenda is never hidden. Our agenda is always very open. We are not the one who operates behind curtains,” he said.
Congress leader in the lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge attacked Modi over his assertion that the Centre was not told about the development and said the BJP then should either pull out of the alliance Government in J&K or Alam should be put behind bars again.
In the Rajya Sabha, leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, Congress’ Anand Shrama, JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav, BSP supremo Mayawati, TMC’s Derek O Brien and CPI’s D Raja also took on the Government over the matter. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said as far as the Government is concerned, there will be no compromise on national security.