Art 370 calls for consensus: BJP

In a climbdown from the party’s stand for abrogation of Article 370 guaranteeing special status to J-K, BJP president Venkaiah Naidu to...

In a climbdown from the party’s stand for abrogation of Article 370 guaranteeing special status to J-K, BJP president Venkaiah Naidu today said that a ‘‘broad consensus’’ was necessary on the issue.

‘‘This does not need majority, but a consensus,’’ he said while talking to mediapersons here. The problem cannot be solved by coining slogans,’’ he said on being reminded that the BJP had, during the last Lok Sabha elections, promised abrogation of Article 370.

The BJP chief, however, admitted that the atmosphere in J-K has changed a lot, but rejected the rehabilitation policy for surrendered militants. The Centre has nothing to do with this policy, he said in an apparent reference to recent statements by Governor Lt Gen S.K.Sinha (retd) and Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed that the Centre has approved the policy and the entire money for rehabilitation of surrendered militants will also be provided by it.

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Paisa vahan (Centre) se aa raha hai lekin yeh policy state ki hai. Woh (state) isko ghalat dhang se project kar rahi hai ki yeh Centre ki yojana hai. Shanti todne walon ke liye koi paisa nahin bheja jata (The money may be coming from the Centre but this is a state government policy. Money isn’t sent for disruptors of peace,’’ he said.

When pointed out that the Hurriyat has threatened to dissociate itself from talks if human rights violations continue in the state, Naidu said the Centre has initiated peace efforts with the Pakistan and things are moving in the right direction. It is the responsibility of everybody to support it. ‘‘Despite this, if they (Hurriyat) want to backtrack, what can I do,’’ he said.

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