JAMMU: Rejecting Pakistan’s stand that creation of dedicated townships in Kashmir Valley for displaced Kashmiri Pandits would change the demographic makeup of the state, Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Friday said Narendra Modi led-government would not let anybody dictate its agenda.
“No, I think India is capable enough to decide on his own terms and agenda. As far as India is concern about how to go on these issues– whether it is the issue of terrorism or issue of displaced people returning to their homes, I do not think the government would let anybody dictate its agenda”, Singh told reporters here on Friday.
He was replying to a volley of questions about the Pakistan’s statement opposing dedicated townships in the Valley for displaced Kashmiri Pandits (KPs).
On the issue of whether Government of India would lodge a protest against Pakistan over interference in its internal matter, he said, “There is mechanism in place for that. We have Ministries of External Affairs and Home and they take an appropriate positioning each time”.
On the issue whether the government will still go ahead with the twin city concept for rehabilitation of KPs in Valley following opposition from Pak and separatists, Singh said, “I will not like to engage in this discussion because the Home Ministry is taking the cognisance of all the options and to the best of its wisdom, it will decide”.
On the issue of UN resolution and change of demographic concern, the Union Minister said, “As far as we in India are concerned, we go more by the resolution of 1994, which is passed in the Parliament unanimously by all the political parties which upheld that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral and inseparable part of India and there is no issue left to be resolved”.
“As far as J and K is concerned, if at all there is an issue left to be resolved or unresolved that is the issue of how to retrieve back the part of erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir which continues to remain under the illegal occupation of Pakistan which is otherwise known as Pak occupied Jammu and Kashmir”, he said.
Hitting out at separatists and other political leaders in Kashmir for opposing the composite townships in the Valley, Singh, who belongs to Jammu, said, “God forbid if tomorrow, I also start laying down conditions how they (separatists and leaders) should live (in Jammu), What will be the consequences that the statesmen of the country and the political parties have to take a view of it”.
On the issue of Pakistan’s allegations that India is engineering demographic change in Kashmir, Dr Singh said, “I think that this argument does not hold any logic or any merit”.
Dr Singh said. “The government has time and again retaliated that it is committed to the safe return of KPs and I must feel it is part of their birth right and part of the constitutional right”.
“The return has to take place of course with dignity and with security”, he added.
“Demographic change would only take place if somebody else comes and settle there. Those who are opposing it, whichever religion they belong to, if they settled in some other parts of the country, same questions can be raised against them”, he said.
(PTI)
