Take action against overground workers, act tough: BJP to Mehbooba

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 24

The ruling BJP, it appears, is running out of patience over the way Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is handling the unrest in the Valley which entered the 47th day of curfew on Wednesday. According to top BJP leaders here, apart from reviewing the situation in Kashmir and talking to stakeholders Home Minister Rajnath Singh has another mandate.

They say Singh also wants to convey that thought — that she should get cracking against radicalised groups, the Over Ground Workers (OWGs) — “read the riot act” that is and create a situation for relaxing the curfew. In another three days, the curfew would complete 50 days and it should be relaxed, they add.

OWGs are workers of militants entrusted with the job of providing logistical support like food, money, hideouts, organising and uniting stone-pelters.

Asserting that the cycle of violence in the Valley will “die down soon, within two weeks”, the BJP leader in know of developments said for that to happen “Mehbooba had no other choice but to act tough with the OWGs otherwise it will not end”.

“She (Mehbooba) is a hardworking and good administrator. The Centre is also cooperating with her in all ways. But she has to be tough with the OWGs, otherwise the cycle of violence will not end,” he said.

Meanwhile Singh, upon his return from the Valley, will prepare a comprehensive report on the issue on the basis of which the Centre will decide its further course of action.

“We are waiting for the Home Minister’s report to decide the further action. All options are open to bring the Valley back to normalcy and peace, including the Centre pitching in further for better handling of situation there.”

The BJP is part of the state government but as per its leaders here, it is the Chief Minister who has the last word. She may be dictated by vote bank politics but she has to be seen acting tough, they assert.

What is seems worrying the BJP is the fact that majority of incidents have been from South Kashmir — areas under the influence of the ruling PDP. This apart, some statements issued by a couple of PDP legislators after the killing of Hizbul Commander Burhan Wani have also irritated the BJP leadership here.

BJP leaders also say that they are “not averse” to talking with separatists as part of the political solution also suggested by opposition parties in their meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“It is a propaganda that we are not willing to talk to separatists, feelers have been sent to them. However the initiative, the first move, has to be from their side. And everything has to be within the Constitutional framework,” they add.