Politics is unpredictable and so are the politician and same holds good for the Home Minister Rajnath Singh who has contradicted his promises on the central government’s future course of action against petitions filed to challenge article 35 A in the supreme court of the country. On first day his four day visit to the state Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh assured that sentiments of people not only on article 35 A but on other issues as well will be fully respected but next day during his two day visit in Jammu Rajnath alleged that his statement has been interpreted as he according to him ment “ respect to the sentiments of all the three regions-Kashmir, Jammu and Ladhak”. Virtually taking a ‘U’ turn from the stand which he had taken in Srinagar on Monday, Rajnath Singh tried to dispel the impression that central government would file a counter affidavit against petitions filed to challenge Article 35-A in the supreme court of the country. Unlike Kashmir where he tried to appease supporters of Article 35-A, the Union Minister tried to confuse the already confused people by saying ‘the matter is sub-judice and so I will not speak on this issue”. Refusing to give an assurance either on filing the counter affidavit or supporting the petitions filed to challenge the Article 35 A in the Supreme Court the home minister has compound the confusion already prevailing in Kashmir valley and Chenab valley and Pir Panchal areas in Jammu region. Unfortunately Rajnath Singh changed his tone on article 35 A in less than 24 hours just to appease BJP’s vote bank in Jammu and PDP’s vote bank in Kashmir valley and Chenab valley pir panchal areas in Jammu region. Political morality demanded a categorical assurance from Home Minister for or against article 35 A on behalf of the central government to clear the confusion which has threatened the political stability in the only muslim majority state of the country.
The response of the top mainstream opposition leaders particularly those representing National Conference should not have jumped to conclusions till the filing of a counter affidavit by the central government in the supreme court next month. The double speak of Home Minister Rajnath Singh has not only exposed the intents of BJP and PDP but also the political appeasing tactics of Omar Abdullah and his likes.
Rajnath Singh’s contradiction of his own words on central government’s position on petitions filed against article 35 A in the supreme court shows that Home Minister tended to act more as a spokesperson of BJP less as Home Minister of the country. Attempts to appease the constituencies of both BJP and PDP by confusing contradiction has put to doubt the credibility of Rajnath Singh as Home Minister of the country. Be it Home Minister Rajnath Singh or Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti the attempts of either Rajnath or Mehbooba to appease the vote banks in Kashmir and Jammu by contradictory statements would further erode the already eroded credibility of PDP in Kashmir and BJP in Jammu region. More shocking was the premature response of the top mainstream leaders including the likes of Omar Abdullah who without waiting for the outcome of the deliberations of Home Minister with political delegation in Jammu said that now noises against central government on petitions filed against article 35 A in the supreme court should be stopped. The response of the top mainstream opposition leaders particularly those representing National Conference should not have jumped to conclusions till the filing of a counter affidavit by the central government in the supreme court next month. The double speak of Home Minister Rajnath Singh has not only exposed the intents of BJP and PDP but also the political appeasing tactics of Omar Abdullah and his likes.
