BJP hasn't given up stand on repeal of Art 370: Union minister Jitendra Singh

NEW DELHI: Maintaining that BJP stood for abrogation of Article 370 in line with Jana Sangh founder Shyama Prasad Mookerjee's views, Union minister Jitendra Singh has said that contentious issues in Jammu and Kashmir have been put on the back-burner keeping in mind the "coalition dharma" with its ally PDP.

In an interview to PTI on matters pertaining to the state, Singh spoke on a host of issues, but preferred to downplay controversial matters, including withdrawal of Article 370, which grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

58-year-old Singh, a doctor-turned-politician who was a surprise choice for the powerful portfolio of Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office, also spoke about the demand for rehabilitation of 60,000 displaced Kashmiri Pandits in Kashmir Valley with "respect and safety".

Mincing no words, Singh said, "I will not be a hypocrite. There is no reason to be hypocritical. I belong to a party which has followed a particular ideology with conviction and against all odds. We never thought or imagined we would ever come to power, either in Delhi and least of all in J-K."

Singh, who also holds independent charge of the Ministry of Development of Northeastern region, added, "We were either in agitation mode or protesting... Because it was given to us to uphold the flag of nationalism, uphold the flag of federalism."

On being part of an alliance government in the state, he said, "One thing is very clear, that we are in coalition in J-K, but we have ideological differences. We have to accept that. And that is very true."

Singh said he had grown up in politics understanding the ideology of Mookerjee, who favoured "ek nishan, ek vidhan, ek pradhan" ('one flag, one Constitution, one leader').

"So, how can we get away from that truth, how can we get away from our legacy and how can we get away from our birth," he said.