‘Court’s decision on Hijab issue should be accepted by all’
STATE TIMES NEWS
New Delhi: Elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held within six to eight months of the delimitation exercise being wrapped up in the Union Territory, Home Minister Amit Shah has said in an exclusive interview to Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi.
“The delimitation exercise is about to get over. After that, within six-eight months, the elections will be held. There is no confusion,” Amit Shah said.
Asked about Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s recent statement that New Delhi and Islamabad should resolve their issues, especially Kashmir, together, Shah said: “Kashmir is an integral part of India. There is no point of discussion there. It is a part of India. This is the position taken by all governments in Parliament. This is the country’s position.”
The Home Minister also criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s recent statement in Parliament that the Narendra Modi’s government Kashmir policies had brought Pakistan and China closer.
“Rahul Gandhi doesn’t know the history of this country. He doesn’t know what happened in 1962 and because of whom. The Narendra Modi government has given strong reply to every challenge posed by China,” Amit Shah said in the interview.
It was speculated earlier this month that the Delimitation Commission, mandated to redraw the Assembly constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir, is likely to get a two-month extension. The term of the panel is coming to an end in early March.
Headed by former Supreme Court judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, the panel has Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra and the state election commissioner of Jammu and Kashmir as its ex-officio members.
In its draft report shared with its five associated members – all Lok Sabha members from Jammu and Kashmir – the delimitation panel has proposed an overhaul of Assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies in the Union Territory. Jammu and Kashmir at present has no Legislative Assembly. It is a UT with a provision for a legislature.
Meanwhile, the Union Home Minister has said that the matter related to the hijab controversy is in court but he personally feels that a school’s dress code should be followed by people of all religions. He said ultimately it has to be decided whether the country will function on the basis of the Constitution or whims.
Shah said once the court takes a decision on the matter everyone should accept it.
On the issue of implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), Shah said there was no question of going back on it.
He, however, said the decision is linked to the Covid situation.
It is my personal belief that people of all religions should accept the school’s dress code. And the issue is now in court, and the court is conducting its hearings on the matter. Whatever it decides should be followed by all, Shah said in an interview with Network18.
Ultimately, it has to be decided whether the country will function on (the basis of) the Constitution or whims. My personal belief only remains until the court makes a decision. And once the court makes a decision, then I should accept it, and everyone should accept it.
“But, I still personally believe that every student should function according to the dress code and uniform mandated by the school, he added.
Asked about the involvement of the Campus Front of India on the issue, the minister said, “These people may have their active involvement, but I’ll just say that their intentions will not come to fruition.”
“The people of India will accept the court’s judgement once it comes.”
The hijab issue in Karnataka had triggered a major controversy across the nation. The matter had its echo in the ongoing assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh too.
According to a statement from the news group, Shah said on the CAA implementation: As long as we are not free from COVID-19, this can’t be a priority. We have seen three waves. Thankfully, things are getting better, the third wave is receding. The decision is linked to the Covid situation. But there is no question of going back on it. The question does not arise.”
He also hit out at the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party for withdrawing cases registered under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) during their respective tenures in Uttar Pradesh.
The law and order issue is important. And now PM Modi has also spoken on terrorism. He spoke in Hardoi on the Ahmedabad blasts case in which 38 accused have been sentenced to death. He said these terrorists were freed from jail during the SP regime, he said,
Eleven such instances took place during the SP and BSP eras when UAPA and POTA cases were withdrawn. What do SP and BSP have to say about security in the country? They will have to answer the public, he added.
Shah expressed confidence of his party’s victory in the politically significant state.