BJP had no role in dissolving J&K assembly: Rajnath
Home minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday distanced the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from Jammu and Kashmir governor Satya Pal Malik’s decision to dissolve the state assembly, saying Malik acted after concluding that it wasn’t possible for a new state government to be formed in the current scenario.
“The governor of J&K took the decision after considering the political situation there; he reached to a conclusion that government formation was not possible in the state,” Singh said in an interview with Hindustan Times. “It was a decision taken by the governor. The BJP has no role. It is unfortunate that some section is trying to drag the BJP into this.”
Governor Malik dissolved the state assembly late on Wednesday night after claims for forming a new government were pressed both by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti and People’s Conference leader Sajjad Lone. Mufti said she had the support of PDP’s arch rival National Conference (NC) and the Congress, claiming the backing of 56 MLAs. Lone said he had the support of the BJP’s 25 legislators and “more than 18” other members in the 87-seat assembly.
The home minister questioned Mufti’s claim of having secured the support of the Congress. “Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad has made a statement that suggests his party had not supported PDP’s bid to form the government. Why did he make that statement if Mufti was right,” Singh asked.
Another senior government functionary claimed that the governor had been considering dissolution of the assembly for the “past three-four days” and there had been no pressure on him from the Centre or any leader to pre-empt Mufti’s bid to form government.
“The governor, it looks, felt there was not a situation where any party had the numbers to form the government,” Singh said. “Moreover, the term of the governor’s rule for six months was also coming to an end in December. Malik used his wisdom to take that call.”
The state has been under governor’s rule since June, after the BJP pulled the plug on its alliance
NEW DELHI: The governor of J&K took the decision after considering the political situation there; he reached to a conclusion that government formation was not possible in the state. RAJNATH SINGH, Union home minister
government with the PDP following differences over a range of issues.
The home minister rejected any notion that the BJP had been spooked by the fact that the PDP, the NC and the Congress had come together to stake a claim for forming a government in J&K. “Where does the question of BJP getting unnerved arise in this case?. It was a decision of the governor,” he said. “Mufti and others, too, were demanding that the assembly be dissolved at the earliest. Malik must have taken all this into account.”
The home minister credited Malik for starting the political process in Kashmir, which has seen peaceful elections to panchayats and urban local bodies, adding that the BJP had always favoured “a popularly elected government at every place.”
Singh dismissed concerns that the dissolution of the assembly may lead to another round of uncertainty in Kashmir, and said fresh election will be the obvious next step after Wednesday’s decision.
“It would be better if the assembly and Lok Sabha elections (next year) are held together and a popular government take charge,” he said.
Singh was non-committal when asked whether Sajjad Lone will receive the backing of the BJP as a chief ministerial candidate when fresh elections are held in J&K. “I am not aware of any such matter,” he replied.