As the BJP in-charge for the recent Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, Ram Madhav played a key role in ensuring its good showing. Although the National Conference emerged as the single largest party with 42 seatsout of 90, clinching a majority with its allies Congress and CPI(M), the BJP finished as the second largest party, bagging 29 seats, all from the Jammu region. In an interview with The Indian Express, Madhav speaks on a range of issues, including the outcome of the first J&K polls after the abrogation of Article 370 and the roadmap ahead. Excerpts: How happy are you with the J&K poll results? The results have been very encouraging. In this election, the BJP could re-establish its popularity in the Jammu region – we won almost all the seats in the main heartland districts of Jammu… The BJP got the highest vote share, 26%, which is highest in the party’s history in J&K too. In the Valley also, we could make the BJP’s strength felt at a time when there was a campaign that the entire Valley opposes Delhi post-abrogation of Article 370. In Gurez, our candidate came very close to victory. In another constituency in South Kashmir, considered to be a stronghold of the hardliners, one of our candidates secured more than 7,000 votes. The BJP is not a pariah in Kashmir Valley. People are not only open to listening to us, some of them come forward to vote also. We have to work on these strengths now. The disappointment is that with just the support it got from the Valley, the National Conference managed to form the government. The government is not fully representing the entire J&K because the Jammu heartland is missing from it. Of course, one of the Independents who won from Jammu has been given a ministry, still Jammu is missing from this government. In your view what is the message this outcome has given to the country? The message is that Kashmir, as far as politics and elections are concerned, is now like any other state in our country. With a peaceful election, a transparent election, participation of all sections of society, we have a government today. The process of institutional realignment that started in August 2019 has been completed… That’s the message to the entire world. The biggest message for the political class is that people in Kashmir want whatever you are doing to be presented as a part of the administrative process. If you subject us (Kashmiris) to any humiliation or patriotism test, we will react differently. But if you offer changes as administrative necessity for the good of the people in the state, we will cooperate – this is the message. How far has the BJP's political strategy in J&K succeeded? There was a delimitation process, there were many smaller parties, Independents, seen as a bid to split the votes. Delimitation is a process that cannot be linked to this election. It was overdue, and it was decided in 2019 that it would take place soon. In a place like Jammu and Kashmir, for any government to be successful… it requires equal representation from both Jammu and Kashmir. So our electioneering process was in the hope that (such a) government would be in place. But because the numbers in the Valley were overwhelmingly in favour of a party, they (a Kashmir-based party) formed the government. Ideally, the numbers should have represented both Kashmir and Jammu. Did the BJP consider aligning with the NC? No, never… We were hoping that we would be able to get a good number of seats and that there will be a government that has equitable representation of both Jammu and Kashmir. But the mandate is such that a Kashmir-centric government is in place. Do you foresee a situation in J&K like that of the Delhi government vis-a-vis the Centre? You look at this (J&K) government from an aspirational point of view. If you continue to see it through the 2019 prism, then probably you do not understand this mandate fully. It’s a very important transformation, but it is as much an administrative transformation as political. We could take many measures that otherwise would not have been possible. For example, reservation, bringing in all the existing laws in the country – and J&K has benefited from it. That part of the message should also be highlighted, not just the political aspects. We did away with it (Article 370) because it was an anomaly in the Constitution, but the larger aspect of it is that it benefited the people. It was not just a show of strength of the Central government. That subtle message has to be kept in mind… The Prime Minister’s message has been that life without 370 is much better than life with it. People have realised it. That’s why Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on the very day of the results that 370 was not a priority. Even if statehood is returned, J&K will remain a divided state, isn’t it? There are two words we usually use when it comes to statehood: return and restore. We should stop using these words, the reason being that the Jammu and Kashmir we are talking about now is totally a new entity. The old Jammu and Kashmir no longer exists. Major areas, in terms of geography, are part of a separate Union Territory (Ladakh). The residual old Jammu and Kashmir is the new UT now. There is a demand, about which we also talk about, and both the Home Minister and Prime Minister have made it clear that Jammu and Kashmir will get statehood. It is a fresh state. What will be the shape and form of that state will be decided by Parliament. There will be discussion, there will be an Act granting certain powers to the UT at the appropriate time. Giving statehood is a commitment made by the (Central) government. When and how will be decided by Parliament. Our priority now is different… We have to address the issues of bread and butter that matter to the people. For example, a state economy that is heavily dependent on the Centre, industrialisation, economic activities, employment generation, etc. The current government has to act on them. There is tension in Ladakh over its status. Yes, because there are complicated issues. In Ladakh, the demand for the Sixth Schedule is largely to do with the specific purpose of protecting the land and jobs of the people there. Talks are on. The issues will be addressed. How do you see the BJP growing in J&K in the future? We are the largest Opposition party and we have a strong voice. We will grow in Kashmir Valley. What's going to be your role in the BJP in J&K? I do not know about it. My role in Jammu and Kashmir was limited to only the elections. The party will decide about the future. There has been talk about strained ties between the RSS and BJP… If there was any issue, do you think I would have been given the responsibility in the party that I have? The RSS has its own role during elections and it performs that. The BJP has its own challenges… (There is) No such strain in relations. India and China have come together after a long time to rebuild ties. Where do you see it going from here? Also, in the last few years, India has taken various steps to reduce its reliance on China. How is it going to play out? Prime Minister Modi's government has effected an important shift in its dealings with China and it is paying results today. It started with Doklam. Earlier, when such a standoff happened, we would resort to diplomatic engagements. But what we did post 2014 – when incursions happened during Xi Jinping’s visit – was that (while) diplomatic channels are fine and kept open, on the ground, we show our strength too. The new policy has been proactive diplomacy together with strong ground posturing. This new approach has paid dividends in Doklam… The ground posturing and perseverance made China also understand our position and helped us in securing our territorial rights. The China-India relations are an economic opportunity for both the countries, but an economic challenge too… There is this challenge of dumping and we have to take certain measures to protect India. There is no reason to link it to the border issues… We have to stand on our own feet, while engaging with others. So, is India getting China to manufacture in India? Should India be open to Chinese investments? Security issues are important. You know that Huawei is banned in a number of countries, including countries with advanced security systems. India has to take certain measures.
