The Ceasefire Was Not A Mistake

Exclusive Interview Rajnath Singh , Union Home Minister

- Namrata Biji Ahuja & Sachidananda Murthy

It was the bloodiest Eid in Kashmir in recent years. Was the ceasefire a mistake?

It is not true that big attacks have not happened on Eid in the past. I don’t think that the ceasefire was a mistake. It was a decision that was taken keeping in mind those people in Kashmir who wanted peace and wanted to celebrate the pious month of Ramzan in its true spirit.

We are a democracy. So, we have to take certain decisions for the people, keeping their sentiments in mind. Some decisions have to be taken under a strategy. During Ramzan, the Army, the Central armed police forces and the Jammu and Kashmir Police exercised maximum restraint. But, the Army and the security forces were never stopped from neutralising the terrorists, who were infiltrating from the neighbouring country. We are not calling it ceasefire; it was ‘suspension of operations’ for a month.

The BJP-PDP alliance is over. Do you think the alliance was a mistake?

The BJP did its best and tried to do everything to bring peace and development to the valley.

Do you miss Mufti saab (former J&K chief minister and PDP patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed)?

He was a senior and mature politician. But, we should not draw comparisons. She [Mehbooba Mufti] also tried, but it can be a matter of assessment of how successful she has been. The Kashmir problem is a very old one and has been a major challenge for all governments. And, a major factor has been the challenge of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.

There seems to be an inconsistency in the government’s approach towards the Hurriyat. Sometimes you say you won’t talk to its leaders, then you say you are open to talks.