Slogans not enough, respect J&K citizens: Tariq Anwar

Interview with Nationalist Congress Party member of Parliament

Tariq Anwar, former Union minister and Nationalist Congress Party member of Parliament, tells Sanjay Jog the Centre and the Jammu and Kashmir government will have to immediately take confidence-building steps to tackle the situation on the ground.

What is your view on the current situation in the state as you were part of the all-party delegation that visited it?

The J&K government has failed to deal with the situation firmly. The violence and unrest are more in rural areas, especially South Kashmir.

A number of suggestions were made to tackle the present situation on the ground. There is an urgent need to reopen schools, for movement of civilians to be made free, for arrests made under the Public Safety Act to be fair, to ensure accountability for the use of force, to provide financial packages to the kith and kin of those killed and compensation for those who suffered eye injuries. More importantly, the use of pellet guns should be immediately stopped. These suggestions should be considered by both the Centre and the state government.

A number of suggestions were also made by various groups the delegation met. They made a strong case for increasing the quality of education, opening more higher secondary schools, regularising the exchange programme between J&K and other states. Further, the state government's recruitment process should be fair and transparent and industrialisation and private sector investment should be promoted on a priority basis.

What do you think triggered the unrest?

One of the reasons for unrest is the post-Assembly poll alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) - they had fought against each other in the election. Their agenda, manifestos were totally different. The PDP had the support of Hurriyat leaders during the Assembly poll. In the run-up to the Assembly election, the PDP had promised Hurriyat and other separatist leaders that after assuming power it would start negotiations and work for more autonomy. However, after the elections PDP tied up with the BJP, which is opposed to Article 370. There is a big contradiction between the two ruling partners. People of J&K say it is an unholy alliance.

Separatists and Hurriyat leaders now feel cheated by the PDP. They have now decided to oppose the state government. They were actually waiting for an appropriate opportunity to express their anger and vent their feelings. They got it after the killing of terrorist Burhan Wani.

But Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Rajnath Singh invoked former prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's quote on "insaniyat", "kashmiriyat" and "jamhooriat". Will that work?

It should not remain a mere slogan. The government should take proper action on all three. First, respect the citizens. Mere announcements and sloganeering will not help.

Modi has raised the Balochistan issue and blamed Pakistan in his August 15 speech. What is your take?

Let me tell you, this has nothing to do with the J&K problem. The Balochistan and J&K issues are completely different. Nobody can minimise or belittle the J&K problem. We are giving the people of Balochistan moral support for a long time. It is not a new issue.

This is to divert attention and mount pressure on Pakistan. J&K is part and parcel of the Indian Union and we have to take the people of the state into confidence. We cannot rule the state on the strength of mere rhetoric. The governments at the Centre and in the state have to address the problems faced by the citizens through a confidence-building exercise.

How do you react to the government of India's handling of Pakistan?

It seems the BJP-led government at the Centre is obsessed with Pakistan and is not sticking to one policy. One day Modi goes to wish Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on his birthday, the next day the government declares that there won't be any talks between the two countries. When it comes to Pakistan actions and statements are contradictory.

What do you have to say on the recent attacks on Dalits and minorities?

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's (RSS) policy from the beginning has been obvious: to polarise. It also tried to exploit the J&K issue. This suits Modi and the BJP. Attacks are well planned.

During the general elections of 2014, the polarisation worked in the BJP's favour. Similarly, the BJP had made a number of promises ahead of the parliamentary elections then. But now people are realising that achhe din are far away. The government has failed to bring back black money nor has it curbed farmer suicides. In fact, suicides have increased sharply during the two and half years of BJP rule.

This apart, there is unrest among the youth as the promise of 20 million jobs has not been fulfilled. Therefore, the BJP is frustrated and in order to divert people's attention from the main issue, it is resorting to communal propaganda and raking up issues such as gauraksha (cow protection), dharma parivartan (conversion of religion).

Modi has misguided an entire nation. Nothing has moved. People have given a verdict for five years, but they will analyse and vote in 2019. The next general election will be very difficult for the BJP.

All parties have launched preparations for the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. Modi has announced the BJP will fight it on the development issue? Do you buy this argument?

Undoubtedly, Uttar Pradesh election is crucial for the BJP. If the BJP loses, it will be quite difficult for the party in 2019. Therefore, the BJP will do everything to polarise and communalise. This is despite Modi saying development will be the BJP's agenda.

What is your comment on the Supreme Court's recent judgment on the use of sedition laws - that they should not be used against those who criticise the government?

The Supreme Court has rapped the BJP-led government. All of a sudden, the BJP has become nationalist from being communalist. The RSS never hoisted the Tiranga (Tricolour) at its headquarters. Now the BJP is taking out a Tiranga Yatra. This is a desperate attempt to cover their real profile by adopting a nationalistic posture.

The BJP government was misusing the sedition law for its political benefit. The apex court has exposed the BJP government appropriately.

What is the fate of goods and services tax (GST) law?

The NCP has been in favour of it from the beginning. When the GST Bill was first brought by the United Progressive Alliance, our party extended its support. The NCP will never compromise on national interests and we have supported this time, too. Already 16 states have ratified the Constitution Amendment Bill. I do not understand why the government is delaying (in notifying it). It should be made effective from April 1 next year.

The NCP is of the strong view that the GST should not be a Money Bill but a Financial Bill and that it should be discussed in both the Houses of Parliament. It is an important Bill that will affect our economy.