Nagpur: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Saturday said that for the complete assimilation and integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of India, changes should be brought into the Article 370 and Article 35-A.
He was addressing RSS and BJP workers at the party headquarters in Nagpur.
“There is a need for partisan, transparent and a clean administration in the entire state of Jammu and Kashmir. The determination with which terrorist infiltration and firing from across the border are being dealt with is appreciated. Provocative actions and the propaganda of separatists is been effectively controlled by curbing their illegal financial sources. The positive effects of strategy to neutralize the terrorists are now visible on the ground,” Bhagwat said.
He added, “Problems faced by refugees are still not resolved in J&K. They don’t have basic facilities and lead a backward life. Problems of permanent residents of the state, who migrated from Pakistan occupied Kashmir in 1947, are still present. The problems of those who were displaced from the Kashmir valley in 1990 are remaining as it is. Necessary constitutional amendments will have to be made and old provisions will have to be changed in J&K. Only when constitutional amendments are done, can residents of J&K be completely assimilated with the rest of the country.”
Bhagwat lauded the armed forces’ efforts in dealing with militancy and ceasefire violation by Pakistan in the Valley but said that still much is needed to be done to bring the state to the mainstream.
“For this necessary constitutional amendments will have to be made and old provisions will have to be changed. Then and then only, the residents of Jammu and Kashmir can be completely assimilated with rest of Bharat and their equal cooperation and share will be possible in the national progress,” Bhagwat said in apparent references to Articles 370 and 35-A of the Constitution.
While Article 370 gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir, Article 35-A defines the state’s permanent residents and their special privileges.
The right-wing Hindu leader while speaking about the Rohingyas said that they are threat to the security of the country.
“Links between Rohingya and Jihadi elements are coming to light. If such elements come to India, they may have an impact on our security situation. Why do the Rohingyas want to come to India? We need to study their background. They will not only put pressure on our jobs, resources but will pose a threat to nation’s security. We had not even completely solved the problem of Bangladeshi intrusion when Myanmar’s problems have been heaped on us,” he said.
(With inputs from CNS)
