Special Correspondent
Jammu: In alliance with the PDP, the BJP, was thumping desks during Mehbooba Mufti’s address in the Legislative Assembly on 30th January and skipped Article 370 mention on the fateful day but what pressed the saffron brigade to seek expunction of remarks made by the Chief Minister on the debatable Article a day after her address.
The party, which climbed the peak in 2014 Assembly polls on abrogation of Article 370 plank was ‘deaf and dumb’ during Mufti’s address in the House but what made the BJP MLA from Kathua, Rajiv Jasrotia to raise the issue requesting Speaker’s Chair to expunge the remarks of Leader of the House.
Ironically, the ‘staged drama’ continued for two days on 31st January and 1st February, followed by adjournment of the Legislative Assembly a week before its scheduled duration.
“The BJP legislators could have interrupted the Chief Minister on a particular day while she made a mention in the House by saying that efforts to dilute Article 370 would not be allowed, but the members remained mum, which was unfortunate,” political analysts here said.
They said that the opposition parties, including the National Conference and Congress alleged that the Chief Minister had said that ‘those asking for abrogation of Article 370 are anti-nationals’ but it was the core issue of the Saffron Brigade, who not even bothered to react to the statement.
While replying to the discussion on demand of grants for the departments under her charge on January 30, Mehbooba Mufti had cautioned against the activities of some elements trying to disturb peace in the State, saying that Article 370 represented the pluralistic ethos of the State and disturbing it would go not only against the interests of the State and but the country as well.
She termed Article 370 a protection to the pluralistic ethos of the State and said that those asking for its scrapping don’t know that it is linked to the political character of the people of the State.
She said that these elements are actually bruising the soul of thes ethos resulting in counter elements which ultimately goes against the interests of the State and the country.
“Efforts to dilute Article 370 would not be allowed,” said the Chief Minister in her address.
“As per insiders, it was only BJP high command from the Centre intervened, the Article 370 issue was raised in the House seeking expunging the words ‘anti-national’ and Speaker did it,” they added.
“What else could be an irony that the Speaker on record first expunged the words and later denied it saying that he will examine it but finally expressing that he has not expunged them and the Chief Minister will reply on it,” sources said and added that it was only a political gimmick.
Pertinently National Conference President and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Omar Abdullah just minutes before the adjournment of the House ‘sine-die’ had said that the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti used ‘anti-national’ words twice in her speech and she should make her stand on Article 370 clear.
“I can send you the film in which the Chief Minister used anti-national words not once but twice,” Omar said.
Abdullah said the House was adjourned sine die ‘before time’ and it reflected government’s failures and weakness.
Sources however, said that the Chief Minister has also taken the notice of the Speaker’s direction of expunging her remarks, which allegedly annoyed her with the coalition partner.
“The role of the Centre (BJP Leadership) cannot be ruled out, who played a clever card to have scapegoat and cornering the opposition from seeking clarification from the Chief Minister on Article 370 remarks vis-a-vis getting exposed before people despite being termed as ‘anti-national’ on the issue, on which they rode to come out with flying colours and winning historic 25 Assembly seats,” they said.
BJP, no doubt is answerable to the people, who voted the party to power for the welfare and the interest of Jammu, which they ultimately had forgotten by giving up before the PDP ‘BOSSES’.
Deputy Chief Minister recently had defended the Speaker’s decision to adjourn the Assembly sine die following a ruckus, and blamed the Opposition for not being interested in continuation of the legislature as ‘they had no issues to raise’.
He alleged that attempts are being made to polarise the people of the State over the issue of Article 370 of the Constitution.
“Attempts are being made to polarise (people). Everyone knows the BJP stand on Article 370 of the Constitution and everyone knows what issues PDP has. We have discussed everything on the basis of Agenda of Alliance that is why we took three months to form the government,” he said.
Singh said the PDP-BJP alliance will focus on governance by keeping such issues aside.
