In an interview that might destroy the opposition in one go and send shivers down their spine, Amit Shah whilst speaking to India Today touched upon everything ranging from Kashmir and Article 370, Assam NRC, the economy, Ayodhya dispute case to Sourav Ganguly as BCCI president and much more.
The union home minister was giving an interview for the first time after the abrogation of Article 370 and it was natural that he addressed this topic in detail first and foremost.
Amit Shah asserted that the situation in Kashmir was under control and that there was no curfew in Jammu and Kashmir and Section 144 was imposed only in six police stations.
Shah also explained that the former chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti have been detained under Public Safety Act (PSA). The act allows detention for up to two years without a trial.
Abdullah and Mufti have been in detention since the abrogation of article 370 took place on August 5.
The two political parties headed by these leaders in Jammu and Kashmir have been for decades double-dealing with New Delhi on one side and with separatists on the other while hoarding questionably massive amounts of wealth and property.
While Farooq and Omar Abdullah, and Mehbooba Mufti looked at Jammu and Kashmir as their own fiefdom, the centre has decided to bifurcated the state into two Union Territories and suspended the constitution of Jammu and Kashmir by rendering article 370 ineffective.
The state witnessed a political reform initiated by the strong Modi government and the two family-owned parties have since then engaged in a bitter fight as to who is responsible for the entry of BJP, an ‘outsider’, into Jammu and Kashmir.
On the issue of the Uniform Civil Code, the Home Minister said he can not give a time-table as a lot of things are taken into consideration. “The decision will be made as a team, and under the leadership of PM Modi. We will inform if any decision is made,” said Amit Shah.
As far as the obligation of securing a Uniform Civil Code throughout the territory of India is concerned, the legislature is not there yet.
While the Supreme Court has time and again made thought-provoking observations on this issue, with the recent Supreme Court observations, it is expected that some kind of positive development will take place in the right direction and this elusive object would finally be achieved.
Speaking about the elections slated to be held in the state of Maharashtra and Haryana, where BJP is looking to rout the opposition, Amit Shah sounded confident when he reiterated his statement of winning a two-third majority in the elections to be held in a single phase on October 21. “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.
Mr Shah also took a jibe at the Congress party prince Rahul Gandhi by saying that the former Congress president does not know about the local issues. His statement came a day after Rahul alleged that BJP was trying to distract the public by not talking about local issues.
“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 and we will also bring the Citizenship Amendment Bill,” said Shah speaking about the NRC in Assam that has had some problems in recent times.
Though all being said, it is worthy to be mentioned that in an exercise of this magnitude, errors are bound to creep in, which can be rectified. It is also unfortunate that genuine Indian citizens were excluded from the drafts. However, the media’s attempt to show an apocalypse and the end-of-time situation is outrightly condemnable.
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.”
Those levelling such allegations should understand that the elections had Amit Shah’s son Jay Shah in the fray too and therefore him meddling with the electoral process of BCCI holds no truth.
The stage is now set for the former India captain to be the next president of the BCCI, with elections unlikely to be held at BCCI’s Annual General Meeting on October 23.
Section 144 has been imposed in Ayodhya till December 10 ahead of the anticipation of the verdict on the disputed land and just like what transpired in Kashmir during the abrogation, it seems like something big is about to happen.
Although Shah played it down by remarking that “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,”
Amit Shah has been at the centre of all the important decisions undertaken by the NDA 2.0 and his interview clearly shows that he has got a good head on his shoulder and that the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not afraid of taking the risks and road less travelled.
It would not be a surprise if the Ram Mandir is built in this tenure itself of the government and that the Uniform Civil Code in some way or another is brought in the system. Surely, exciting times ahead.
