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Onkar Singh in New Delhi
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday asked the Congress party to clarify its stand on the reported statement of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed underscoring the possibility of repealing the Prevention of Terrorism Act.
"The statement of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed negates not only the accord that Mrs Indira Gandhi entered with Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah in 1975, but also the constitutional order enacted by Rajiv Gandhi in 1985," BJP spokesman Arun Jaitley told rediff.com.
"We are of the opinion that the state government has no jurisdiction in the matter of legislating or repealing a law, which deals with terrorism and the sovereignty of India. This is unambiguously clear in the constitutional position. The recent political history of Jammu and Kashmir and its constitutional integration with India conclusively establishes this," he said.
He quoted the statement of Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah made on February 24, 1975 to prove his point. "The existing jurisdiction of the Centre to deal with the activities directed towards questioning or disrupting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India, or bringing about cession or secession of any part of the territory of India from the Union, will also continue."
He added it is the 'moral responsibility' of the Congress to 'make its stand clear' on the issue.
Asked if Mufti was showing 'weakness' by talking about the release of militants, Jaitley said, "We feel that no such signal should be issued, which shows a kind of national weakness against terrorism. We must act firmly against terrorism and must take it to its logical end."
He hoped Sayeed would give up his plan to disband the Special Operations Group.
"Governor Girish Chander Saxena has already spoken to the chief minister on this issue. Besides being an able administrator, Saxena was also a top intelligence officer during his service. I am sure Mufti would listen to the voice of reason," Jaitley said.
He hoped Sayeed would talk to the Union government on this matter before taking any decision.
On the issue of non-implementation of POTA in the Congress-ruled states, he contended it was incumbent upon all state governments to implement the law.
ALSO SEE: Complete Coverage of the J&K Election
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