BJP hopeful on Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir; defends President's rule

NEW DELHI: For a party that has rung alarm bells each time there is some problem at the Pakistan or China border, BJP is faced with a predicament where J&K as well as Arunachal Pradesh are under President’s rule and in the midst of political uncertainty — a scenario that has sections within the saffron organisation in a fix.

BJP leaders to whom ET talked to said though the crises were not of its making, it should definitely not continue for long. Party leader Sudhanshu Trivedi defended the imposition of President’s rule in the two states, insisting "one cannot leave border states in a state of anarchy and chaos. No politics should be played on sensitive issues. All steps should be taken to restore normalcy", he said.


BJP leaders are more vocal on Arunachal and defended the Centre for imposition of President’s rule. "While the crisis in Arunachal is one where a big chunk of Congress MLAs are with us, in J&K the situation developed in the wake of Mufti Sayeed’s demise; but we are moving towards ironing out the differences with PDP," a BJP MP involved in party affairs in both states in the past said.

Other BJP leaders underlined that being border states and under President’s rule were the only common grounds between J&K and Arunachal. In J&K, BJP is dependent on how Mehbooba Mufti plays her cards. "Arunachal has usually been with whichever party is in power at the Centre so we are hopeful," a BJP leader said.

BJP pins the blame for imposition of President’s rule on the Congress. "Congress accusing us is akin to pot calling the kettle black. When it comes to President’s rule, Indira Gandhi had crossed the half century mark," BJP secretary Srikant Sharma claimed.

"The uncertainty in both the states will end soon in our favour. It is just a matter of time," a BJP leader said.