Jitendra Singh denies BJP role in J&K assembly dissolution

Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Jitendra Singh on Sunday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) did not have any role in the dissolution of Jammu and Kashmir Vidhan Sabha. "BJP does not believe in interfering in the work of constitutional organizations," he said after the BJP faced flak for allegedly prevailing upon J&K Governor Satyapal Malik to dissolve the state assembly.

"After the dissolution of the Assembly, several parties like the Congress said that it was an order from the Centre. I want to say that BJP does not do anything unconstitutional. We don't interfere in the decision of the Governor. It is the Congress that was abusing Constitutional institutions for their benefit. If the alliance had the numbers, the BJP has nothing to do with it. It is the decision of the Governor," Singh told ANI.

Singh further said that if the Congress and other parties do not approve of the Governor's decision, then they are free to approach the courts. "It is a democracy and the doors of the judiciary are open," he added.

Taking on the Congress, National Conference, and the PDP, he said, "Dynasty politics of the Congress and two other parties in the Valley has been growing for a long time. The Congress at the Centre and the other two in Jammu & Kashmir think this can go on. They did not understand that this is the third generation after independence and dynastic politics will not be tolerated. The people of Kashmir want dynasty-free democracy."

Taking a jibe at the Congress, Singh said that the BJP was ready for elections at any time in the state as it was a 'cadre-based party' and not one where "the father and son (NCP) discuss among themselves or a party of mother and daughter (PDP)."

Last Wednesday Governor Malik had dissolved Jammu and Kashmir assembly, minutes after PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti wrote to the Governor staking claim to form the government in alliance with the NC and the Congress. Opposition parties had condemned the Governor's decision to dissolve the assembly abruptly, terming the move as "politically-motivated.