BJP State Spokesperson, Prof. Virender Gupta, welcomed the statement of Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh that “we do not just want need based ties, but to build an emotional relationship with Kashmir.” He also hailed Rajnath’s statement that “talks will be held with whosoever the Centre can after the restoration of peace with anyone while taking Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir into confidence”. However, Prof. Virender Gupta said that no talks should be held with the separatist leaders like Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Yasin Malik, who are not only responsible for the present situation of Kashmir valley but acting as Pakistan stooges to keep Kashmir boiling for the benefit of Pakistan and working against the interests and integrity of the country. He said that there are number of cases of committing murder of army/security personnel and pro-India elements and instrumental in migration of Kashmiri Pandits and other minority communities, against them. He added that these leaders have waged a war against the India at the behest of Pakistan and favour Kashmir becoming the part of Pakistan. He further added that there is need to pursue vigorously the pending cases against them and action be taken as per the law of the land. He said that this is essential to restore normalcy and peace in the valley.
Prof. Virender further said that the stake holders to whom the talks can be held for resolving the Kashmir/J&K issue are people of Jammu region, Kashmir valley, Ladakh region and Kashmiri Pandits, PoJK displaced persons, people of various religious and ethnic groups. He said that people of Jammu and Ladakh regions who have suffered discrimination and political neglect since J&K acceded to India and PoJK displaced persons need more attention in any negotiation to be held. He said that granting of greater autonomy would harm the national interests and the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Ladakh regions as it shall further empower the valley elite and subject the people of these regions to further neglect.
Prof. Virender said Kashmir is not Jammu and Kashmir, it merely constitutes 15 percent area of J&K that at present is under Indian jurisdiction with a population about 45 percent of state and added that there is more than about 60 percent silent majority in the valley which has nothing to do with present turmoil and wants to remain the part of Indian democracy.
