Jammu: Union minister Jitendra Singh on Sunday claimed that various Kashmiri leaders who have been detained after Article 370 was diluted were not under ‘house arrest’ but that they were ‘house guests’ who were ‘enjoying’ hospitality and facilities that were not available in their own homes.
Speaking at an event, Singh said, “Political leaders have been kept in VIP bungalows. We have even given them CDs of Hollywood movies. Gym facility has also been provided to them. They are not under house arrest. They are house guests.” He also stated that the leaders would not be kept under detention for longer than 18 months.
Singh made the remarks while addressing a BJP rally organised on the eve of the last Dogra ruler Hari Singh’s birth anniversary. Hari Singh’s grandson and senior BJP leader Ajatshatru Singh, however, was conspicuous by his absence at the function which was attended by, amongst others, Union minister of state Anurag Thakur, BJP national vice president Shyam Jaju and state BJP president Ravinder Raina.
Singh, without identifying anyone, claimed that propaganda has been launched by some “vested interests” to link the dilution of Article 370 with religion. He asked Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir not to be “misguided” by this propaganda that they would lose their majority position in the state. He later said that Article 370 was ‘misused’ by some families, hinting that the “vested interests” he was referring to were Mehbooba Mufti and Omar & Farooq Abdullah.
“After October 31 (when Jammu and Kashmir will become two Union territories), the ordinary people of Kashmir will see the benefits of diluting this article,” he claimed.
He also claimed that there is no curfew in the state. “Only minor restrictions under section 144 CRPC were imposed in a dozen police station areas so that nobody can create any trouble,” Singh said.
Singh said that the BJP’s spokespersons have been informed to tell the media that the mainstream leaders who have been detained in Kashmir will be released before 18 months. He compared the detention of Kashmiri leaders with that of L.K. Advani, A.B. Vajpayee and Arun Jaitley during the Emergency.
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