It's delimitation next in Jammu and Kashmir, says BJP

As parliament approved the historic bill to split Jammu and Kashmir in two Union Territories, the ruling BJP Tuesday announced its next move: redrawing the region's electoral constituencies.

In an exclusive interview to India Today TV, BJP general secretary Ram Madhav suggested the "overdue" delimitation exercise in Jammu and Kashmir be carried out in the "right earnest".

"We definitely want the delimitation exercise to be concluded. It's part of the bill (passed by parliament)," Madhav told India Today.

At present, Jammu and Kashmir has 87 assembly and six Lok Sabha constituencies. Of them the valley has 46 assembly and three parliamentary boroughs.

Ladakh, home to one Lok Sabha and four assembly constituencies, will have no legislature as a Union Territory. So any delimitation exercise is expected to focus largely on the new UT of Jammu and Kashmir.

"We are keen that the delimitation exercise would be taken up in the right earnest," said the BJP general secretary, the man who led his party's policy on Jammu and Kashmir.

His remarks came a day after the Modi government moved to scrap the region's special status via a presidential decree.

Madhav, however, spelled out no timeline for fresh elections in the new UT of Jammu and Kashmir.

"When to hold the elections is the decision that the Election Commission has to take," he said. "Ideally, I think they also have to wait until the delimitation exercise is over."

POST-370 CONTINGENCY PLANS

The BJP leader dismissed speculations about possible unrest in the valley following abrogation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status, calling them doomsayers' propaganda.

"Doomsday predictors are leaders for whom Article 370 has been a bread-and -butter issue. They'll make all sorts of predictions. But in the last 24 hours, celebrations have been going on in Jammu and utmost happiness in Ladakh," he insisted. "There's been no negative fallout in the valley so far. It's been very silent."

Madhav said his party would reach out to ordinary Kashmiris in order to explain the "benefits" from the new measures. "I am sure if the right message goes across, people will realise that all that the government of India has done or is doing now is actually going to benefit the ordinary people of the valley in a big way. We will certainly make efforts to explain this to the people of the valley."

The BJP leader, however, maintained that security agencies will remain on alert to tackle any untoward situation.

POLITICAL ARRESTS

Madhav described the detention of former chief ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah as precautionary measures ahead of the landmark presidential decree on the special status.

"It was a preventive measure. It's necessary for the government to ensure there is no negative fallout," he said. "For political leaders, preventive arrests are a common thing. I am sure they will be treated with full respect and dignity. There won't be anything for anyone to worry about."

NO EXTERNAL PRESSURE

The BJP general secretary ruled out the possibility of any "extraneous factor" behind the government moves on Jammu and Kashmir.

"Knowing our leaders, I can tell you that no extraneous factor could influence the decisions or thinking of our leaders like Modiji," he said when asked whether India had been influenced by US president Donald Trump's public statements. "In any case, on the question of Trump's offer to mediate, the government of India has made its position clear that no such intervention was ever sought."

WHY UT STATUS?

Asked why Jammu and Kashmir has been converted into a Union Territory, he said the region warranted a different treatment to complete its full integration into the union of India.

"Until yesterday (Monday), the opposition argued Jammu and Kashmir is not like any other state in India," he said. "When it is not like other states of India, it had to be dealt with differently. That's what we are doing. In the process of making it like any other state in the country. We need to make certain progressive moves. It will acquire full statehood sooner than later."

Madhav also referred to geopolitical considerations evolving in the western neighbourhood.

"I am not privy to the decision (on UT status). But I can only guess that there is a peculiar situation developing in the west of our country. Taliban resurgence is happening and in that, interestingly, Pakistan is a party, America is a party, Russia is a party, China is a party and we are not. Probably, long-term implications of what's happening in our neighbourhood need to be kept in mind. We need to handle it in a strategic manner."

Madhav also insisted that the BJP would aim to fulfil its Ram temple and Uniform Civil Code promises during its current term in office.

"I am sure in the next three-four years, we will make a lot of progress in the direction of concluding these issues (Ram temple and the Uniform Civil Code)," he said. "On a lighter note, we'll probably have to look for new pillars in 2024.

We will be able to complete our major promises that we made to the people in the last six-seven decades."

NOTHING UNCONSTIUTIONAL UNDER MODI

The BJP leader rejected opposition accusations that the Modi administration would use inappropriate methods to topple elected state governments.

"We have followed the constitution most scrupulously in letter and spirit while implementing any decision," he said. "All the decisions that the prime minister has taken -- whether it was demonetisation, action against Pakistan, against terrorist, or whatever -- were very bold decisions. He is a man of great courage and determination. But remember, he has always followed the rule of law. He always respected it. We will never do anything that violates the constitutional propriety, constitutional spirit and constitution as a respected entity."