Ravi Shankar Prasad on political situation in Jammu and Kashmir
"The political situation in Jammu and Kashmir is sensitive and uncertain. In such a situation, the Governor has every right to take appropriate decision," Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Thursday, as Governor Satya Pal Malik's decision on Wednesday to dissolve the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly gave way to a political furore.
Jammu and Kashmir Governor had every right to take appropriate decision in view of the "uncertain" political situation in the state, the Union minister said while talking to reporters in Indore, Madhya Pradesh.
He, however, did not reply when asked about Malik's claim that horse-trading was underway in the state. It would not be appropriate to react on this issue, he said.
Prasad further took potshots at PDP, National Conference and Congress and said, "In Jammu and Kashmir, these three parties suddenly changed their stand in the darkness of night. These parties came out with a claim to form government. Can any political party be a bigger opportunist than them?"
Refuting Congress president Rahul Gandhi's allegations of corruption in Rafale deal, he said, "Rahul has not spoken anything authentic on the issue so far. We executed this deal in the national interest. We cannot constitute a Joint Parliamentary Committee on the issue only to satisfy Rahul's ego."
On the Ram temple issue, he said, "It has been BJP's resolve from day one that a Ram temple should be built at Ayodhya. It is not an election issue for us but a matter of faith. Our government will take all steps in this regard within the Constitutional limits."
In reply to a question about the Sabrimala temple case, the Law Minister said, "This is a matter of faith. Fundamental ideas of any religion are based on thousands of years old traditions. If a court is to analyse the basic ideas of a religion, such analysis should be done for all religions.”
On former prime minister Manmohan Singh's accusation that the Narendra Modi government wants to capture every national institution, Prasad said, "Congress is an undemocratic party, and it should not play advocate for democracy. Manmohan Singh should tell us during whose tenure the apex court had termed CBI as a caged parrot."
