BJP kept in dark on minorities commission affidavit in apex court

Tribune News Service

Jammu, December 12

The ruling PDP did not take its alliance partner BJP into confidence before filing an affidavit in the Supreme Court rejecting the constitution of a minorities commission in Jammu and Kashmir. This has ruffled the feathers of the BJP ministers, who have taken a serious note of the unilateral action by the PDP ministers, particularly Law Minister Abdul Haq Khan.

A senior BJP minister told The Tribune that the issue was neither discussed in the Cabinet nor with the saffron party’s ministers.

“I am shocked and surprised at the attitude of the Law Ministry over this unilateral action,” the minister said on the condition of anonymity, adding that he planned to take up the matter with the party high command and also question Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.

The BJP minister said this was a crucial matter concerning millions of people who have suffered over the past seven decades. “We will get the whole thing reviewed and not allow any party (PDP) to have its way in such sensitive matters.”

Anger has been brewing in the BJP cadre over the PDP’s unilateral actions. They have warned the party ministers and leaders that there is a limit to tolerate PDP overstepping its limits and violating the norms of the coalition dharma.

“It cannot be a one-way ticket,” a senior party leader has told the ministers.

The minister, who has been fighting for the justice of all regions and religions in the Cabinet, said the red lines would be drawn and the PDP told to adhere to it.

It may be mentioned here that the state government in its affidavit in the Supreme Court said it couldn’t have a minority commission as the national minorities were in majority in some of the states and they don’t have separate minority commission.

What has disturbed the BJP ministers is the clandestine manner in which, it alleged that the PDP did the whole thing. BJP sources said the party was neither a party to it (the affidavit) nor they agreed with PDP’s version of not having a separate minorities commission in Jammu and Kashmir.