In his first interview after Article 370 was consigned to history, Union Home Minister Amit Shah dismissed reports of violence on the ground and said Jammu and Kashmir is very peaceful. Incidentally, Shah's statement came on a day when postpaid mobile services were restored in the Valley after more than 70 days of lockdown. The Home Minister also held Article 370 responsible for the killings of 40,000 people.
"There is no curfew anywhere and no shoot-at-sight order after the abrogation of Article 370. Section 144 has been imposed only at six police station areas. The apple business is running smoothly. There is traffic on roads and markets are also reopening gradually. Overall, the situation is good. People are going to masjid to offer Friday prayers. There is peace in both Jammu and Kashmir divisions. Mobile services and voice calls have also resumed."
J&K leaders' detention
When asked about the detention of former chief ministers Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, Shah said when a decision is fresh, it is natural for people to be shocked. "If someone tries to incite then it will be difficult to control the situation. Some 4,000 people were detained as a precautionary measure, of which
less than 1,000 are in jail today. More than 800 of them were caught stone-pelting. Why was Sheikh Abdullah jailed for 11 years when there was Article 370? Congress didn't say anything because it was in power. They justified it by saying that he incited people. But now for over two-and-a-half-months, they are making an issue out of it," he said.
On being asked about Shah's statement in Parliament that Farooq Abdullah was inside his house as per his wish after which the former CM cried, the Home Minister said the government never stopped him from going out before the Public Safety Act. "If you keep someone under house arrest, you have to inform it to the police station within 24 hours. There are records of it, many journalists tried to dig it out. But it has been proven that he was not under house arrest."
"Mehbooba and Omar have been kept under detention under the Public Safety Act."
If everything is normal then why J&K leaders can't move freely? What message has been sent out?
Amit Shah replied, "Some 40,000 people were killed, what message was sent out? I believe they were killed due to Article 370. Time should be given to settle the issue down. As a precautionary measure, we have kept them under detention."
Roadmap for Jammu and Kashmir
"There was no development there due to Article 370. There was immense corruption. I believe development will happen now. Panchayat polls are around the corner."
On asked that besides the BJP, why nobody is contesting, Shah said, "Nobody has been stopped. They have boycotted it. There are many places in the country where Independents fight without an election symbol. Everybody should fight in democratic politics."
"There has been a history of Jammu and Kashmir that people have thronged the streets despite shoot-at-sight orders. It has happened in the past that people were killed. People have understood that there has been no development compared to other states due to Article 370," Shah added.
Dismissing reports that three locals died due to action by security forces, Shah said not a single bullet was fired and nobody died due to law and order situation.
When asked about Malaysia, Turkey and China trying to favour Pakistan, the Home Minister said, "This is their view. By and large, the entire world supported India on the issue. This is the biggest achievement of the Narendra Modi government."
How do you see China's reaction? Shah said, "I don't think they are totally against us. That is their stand."
On Uniform Civil Code
On the issue, the Home Minister said he can't give a time table as a lot of things are taken into consideration.
On being tagged as "superpower" and that he will run the BJP after December as party president too, Shah said it doesn't happen in this manner. "This is wrong thinking.
The new BJP president will run the party affairs."
Maharashtra and Haryana polls
"The BJP is in a good position in both states. We will win by more than two-third majority. Both Devendra Fadnavis and Manohar Lal Khattar governments have worked very well," Shah said, adding Fadnavis will be the next Maharashtra CM.
On Rahul Gandhi's allegations that the government is trying to distract people and not talking about real issues, he said, "I don't think what Rahul ji knows about the BJP's campaigning. The BJP's campaigning takes place in three stages -- big rallies, group meeting and door-to-door campaign. The BJP is a very democratic party."
Asked about bringing in leaders from other parties whom the BJP has accused of corruption in the past, Shah said, "I don't consider someone bad if he changes his party before elections. In any case, you face the mandate of the people."
On investigating agencies going soft on turncoats if they join the BJP, Shah said people ask all the questions. "There is a court above the investigation agencies. The court sees the case diary and day-to-day reports; the previous and the current stance. Many investigations on our leaders started after our government came to power."
Does this dent the BJP's anti-corruption image that tainted leaders are brought in to your party to win elections?
"The chief ministers and the Cabinet run the government and they are clean. If there are any charges on the leaders we are taking in, people will decide their fate," he said.
P Chidambaram issue
When P Chidambaram was the home minister, Amit Shah was jailed. So are you taking revenge from him?
"CBI and ED were neither under him nor under me. They don't work under the home ministry. I was charged in a fake encounter case and all charges were quashed. There is a difference. The
investigation against Chidambaram is going on for five years. This is not correct to put allegation when you get into trouble," said the Home Minister.
On Praful Patel
Shah was asked about Praful Patel links with Iqbal Mirchi and his allegations that the BJP government and its agencies are harassing him. "Praful Patel ji should tell about the agreement with Iqbal Mirchi. In 2007 when the agreement took place then there was Red Corner Notice on Iqbal Mirchi. Still, you get into an agreement. If the documents are on record so is the agreement. He should make public the agreement with Iqbal Mirchi's family."
On Sharad Pawar
Sharad Pawar has been linked to the Rs 25,000-crore scam in Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank just before elections. He is planning to make it an election issue, to which Shah replied, "He can make it an election issue but the FIR was registered on the order of the high court. The victims went to the high court."
PMC crisis
In the backdrop of PMC Bank scam, shouldn't there be an insurance policy for investors' money?
"In case of PMC, properties worth more than the scam have been seized. By and large, the money will be returned. Legal proceedings have been left.
80 per cent of people can be given their money back. But this will take a month or two. We are holding discussions with all stakeholders."
Economic slowdown
On economic revival, Shah said investment happens in new avenues. Those having cash reserves have expanded their businesses. "In the era of globalisation, the economy of a country can't be evaluated in isolation. In comparison to the global economy, our condition is good. The dip in GDP and slowdown is less compared to other countries. We can't compare the size of our economy with Bangladesh."
"Slowdown is a temporary phase. It is not possible that the global economy will not affect the Indian economy...When the Opposition was in power, they didn't even know the economy and politics. I have full faith that we will meet Modi ji's $5 trillion economy target. Monsoon has been very good. The long-term actions taken by Nirmala Sitharaman will also benefit us. The steps taken by her in five different sectors will boost the economy. She is working in an aggressive mode," Shah added.
On an article written by Sitharaman's husband criticising the BJP's economic vision, and that the party is in denial, he said, "Do we want a country where the husband and wife think alike? There is nothing surprising. Every person has a viewpoint. Just because he is
Nirmala ji's husband, should he be targeted like this?"
On Sourav Ganguly & BCCI
On the allegation that Shah has a hand in choosing the new BCCI president, he said, "BCCI has an election process, and they all file nominations have been associated with cricket and Sourav Ganguly can meet me."
There are reports that Shah has a deal with Ganguly wherein the Home minister will help the former cricket captain become the BCCI president in return that Ganguly will become the BJP face in the 2021 Bengal Assembly elections.
"There is no such deal. We had never tried to bring in Sourav. And it's not true that we want a face in Bengal. Without a face, we got 18 Lok Sabha seats. Even in UP, Manipur and Tripura, we didn't have a face and we won all elections. I am not saying that we cannot win without a face. Anybody who wants to join the BJP is welcomed."
On NRC issue
"The NRC process is carried out under the order and directions of the Supreme Court. We will fix the loopholes in the current NRC process and ensure a leak-proof NRC.
The NRC will be extended across the country...Will also bring the Citizenship Amendment Bill," he said.
"There is nothing anti-Muslim in the exercise...We cannot allow everyone in India...Congress never stopped illegal immigration and so we should start a legal procedure to identify and deport such people," he added.
On Kartarpur Corridor
Shah expressed his wish to visit the Kartarpur shrine and pay respects. "We have made solid arrangements so that the corridor can't be used for terror activities."
On radicalisation of youth
There are concerns over the radicalisation of youth in Kerala and some other states due to Popular Front of India (PFI). How concerned are you?
"It's not only about PFI. Whichever organisation indulges in such activities, we take the matter very seriously. To stop them, we will take all constitutional measures."
On Ayodhya hearing
"We are completely prepared to tackle the law and order situation if any. I am sure the people of this
country will respect the Supreme Court decision on Ayodhya. I trust the country's fabric. This is the oldest case in the country, and it is an injustice that the case has been dragged for so long," Shah remarked.
On a lighter note, Shah was questioned whether he enjoys working as the Home Minister or BJP president?
He answered, "Both are same for me. I work for my country."
