Hours after PDP chief and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said that ‘playing with fire’ could rekindle situations like 1947 in the state, the BJP on Monday seemed to suggest that it will not play into the hands of such campaigners and will never bow down under pressure.
“Yeh giddar dhamki mein hum aney waley nahi hae (Such empty threats will not scare us),” BJP spokesman Sudhanshu Trivedi told a private TV channel.
He said earlier too such ‘threats’ were issued but once the government of India stood firm and took tough decisions, things could have been criticised but the fallout was not as was made out to be.
“Such threats have come earlier also. When jurisdiction of the Supreme Court was extended in the state of J&K, such empty threats came. When the Election Commission role was extended, such threats came. But nothing happened,” he said.
Mr Trivedi said – “It was also threatened that if Hurriyat leaders are arrested, Kashmir valley will burn. Actions were taken and for ED norms violations, Hurriyat leaders were arrested. Nothing happened. Similarly, he said, a fear psychosis was spread that if terrorist Afzal Guru is hanged, Kashmir will burn….But nothing happened”.
The remarks assume significance as the government of India and the state administration under President’s Rule have decided to pursue hot pursuits against terrorism and their ‘sympathisers’ in the state.
Earlier in the day, Ms Mehbooba Mufti told reporters, ” Don’t play with fire; do not fiddle with Article-35A, else you will see what you have not seen since 1947, if it is attacked then I don’t know which flag people of J&K will pick up”.
