Ram Madhav favours tough action to control Kashmir unrest

New Delhi, Sep 10 (PTI) BJP leader Ram Madhav todayfavoured tough action to control the current unrest in Jammuand Kashmir and said separatists should give up theagitational path and consider dialogue. The party general secretary also said the PDP-BJPgovernment in the state would last its full term as long thetwo parties abide by the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) andtackle the situation in an appropriate manner. "There is a concern, that we probably have not tackled it(situation) effectively. We have allowed certain things todrift. Time has come for us to act tough and control thesituation in the larger interest of the people of the valleyas also the larger interest of India’s integrity," he toldKaran Thapar on India Today TV. On the national mainstream parties’ demand for talkswith Hurriyat, Madhav said they were free to talk to the stategovernment as the CMP says that the state government was readyto talk to all stakeholders including the separatists. "Very much. They should give up their agitationalpolitics which is not going to yield them anything. I amtelling them very clearly," he said to a question whether theball was in the Hurriyat’s court. Madhav said even though some members of the all-partydelegation had approached separatists, their response wasnegative as they seem only interested in instigating violence. "These leaders (separatists) are not really interested inpeace, not interested in dialogue. They are interested inviolence, getting children killed. "The message from our side has gone through the (all-party delegation’s) visit. But this adventure (the snubbedoutreach to the separatist leaders ) that happened as a sideshow definitely conveys to a large section of Kashmiri peoplethat these leaders are really not interested in anydialogue or solution. They only want to perpetuate thedisturbance and violence in Kashmir," he said. On the issue of autonomy, he said "my party’s stand isvery clear. That there is enough freedom and enough laws tohelp the state." "Whatever is there is enough. But anything more that theydemand needs to be there within the framework of IndianConstitution," he said, dubbing as "political posturing" thedemands made by Congress leader P Chidambaram and CPI-M leaderSitaram Yechury for more autonomy to be given to the state. Asked if BJP would be persuaded by Chief MinisterMehbooba Mufti, Madhav said "No. We are together onan agreed upon agenda, namely of Common minimum Programme.BJP’s position is a well thought out position on this issue.There is no change in that position," he said. People have the right to ask for the moon but it has tobe within the framework of the Constitution, Madhav said. At another point, he said, "my party’s stand is veryclear. That there is enough freedom and enough laws to helpthe state". PTI SKC VSCSK