Borders can’t be redrawn, Jaitley to Pak

M Aamir Khan

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 3

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today said time was ripe to form a ‘national mainstream’ government in J&K as the people of the state wished to live in a peaceful atmosphere. He also reiterated the party stand that J&K was an integral part of India and all, including Pakistan, had to understand that boundaries cannot be redrawn.

“I want to make it clear that every citizen has to realize that J&K is an integral part of the country…the neighbouring country (Pakistan) has to understand that it cannot get any part of this country…time has changed, boundaries cannot be rewritten now… Time has come to form national mainstream government. If we remain entangled in past issues, the future generation will not forgive us,” Jaitley said during a first-of-its-kind interactive session by a senior BJP leader with the civil society here.

Even as the BJP top brass had been holding a series of media and public meetings in the recent past with the aim of building party base in the Valley, Jaitley suggested that more Central leaders should regularly hold interactive sessions with the public.

He said during his regular visits here, he had met a cross-section of people that had brought a ‘change in our mindset’.

He said those who had taken up guns had to understand that they cannot succeed in their endeavour through violence.

He said the main aim was to establish peace and prosperity and create a conducive atmosphere for economic development.

Jaitley promised that the BJP government would ensure that justice was done. He pointed to the apology and swift action taken by the Centre following the killing of two innocent youth by the Army at Chattergam in Budgam district.

He also complimented the people for voting in large numbers despite the boycott call and cold weather conditions.

Like other BJP leaders have done in the past to connect with the people, Jaitley also invoked former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s famous statement where he had promised to resolve the Kashmir issue within the ambit of humanity (insaniyat ke dayire main).