Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh speaks to The Hindu on issues ranging from J&K, Nirav Modi and Rohingya. He visited J&K last week, after the Home Ministry announced suspension of operations on May 16 on the occasion of Ramzan.
How was the response to your visit to J&K recently? This was your first visit since Centre announced the suspension of operations or cease-ops during Ramzan?
As my vehicle passed on the road in Srinagar, I waved at people and they responded with great enthusiasm. This was not the case earlier. Whenever a leader from the Centre visited, there used to be a shutdown. This time there was none.
Is this the impact of cease-ops?
It has generated goodwill. We implemented it during Ramzan as we did not want any civilian casualties. We will see what needs to be done later but this was done to give relief to those Muslims who are inclined to peace. It’s a muqaddas (pious) festival.
Can we say this is a deviation from the Government’s earlier policy?
This is a decision that has been taken after consulting everyone and Prime Minister Narendra Modi was onboard. Our government doesn’t discriminate on the basis of religion but a terrorist doesn’t have religion or doesn’t belong to any caste or creed. The decision was taken so that those Muslims who want peace do not face inconvenience during Ramzan.
Will it continue beyond Ramzan? What's your opinion?
We will take a decision after a security review.
You reviewed the security situation when you went to Srinagar last week?
Though goodwill has been generated, there have been incidents of grenade attacks and a day ago two policemen were killed by militants. It is a cause of concern. It should be seen on humanitarian grounds. No country wants terrorism to thrive on its soil.
The Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) of India and Pakistan recently issued a statement that the 2003 ceasefire pact would be followed in letter and spirit?
While infiltration continues, cross-border firing has gone down a bit. Pakistan should stop this. The decision of the DGMOs is significant and it should be honoured. Ceasefire violations are happening.
Is any Track II dialogue with Pakistan on? Or a dialogue with the political leadership?
If Pakistan wants we can start a dialogue. They should stop terrorism that emanates from its soil. We took several initiatives. The Prime Minister broke all protocols and went to Pakistan to attend a wedding function (then Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif’s granddaughter’s wedding). We did not get the kind of response we expected for the gesture. One, you are not able to stop terrorism, but admit it at least. Pakistan should ask for our help, if they are unable to tackle terrorism. India can work with it to wipe out terrorism from Pakistan.
Why don't you speak to the Pakistan Army. They seem to be in control of the affairs in the neighbourhood?
No, but the elected government is important. Any initiative is to be done with the elected government.
What about talks with the Hurriyat (separatists) conference? Why only second-rung leaders of the Hurriyat were arrested? Why have the arrests stopped?
I have said in the past that we will talk to anyone who wants to talk to us. No leader has been arrested but no one is allowed to do any wrong either. NIA is an independent agency. It would know why the arrests have stopped. The agency arrested whoever it deemed fit. We don’t interfere in its work.
Is Special Representative Dineshwar Sharma holding backchannel talks with the Hurriyat?
Till now no such talks have taken place. He has been sent there to talk to everyone. He hasn’t gone there for sight-seeing. We have not tied his hands. He can talk to whoever he wants.
Where is Nirav Modi?
Whatever information you have got through newspaper reports, I am also privy to the same.
How could he reach London when his passport was revoked? And why all the economic offenders escape to London?
I don’t know. The concerned countries should know. We have brought the Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill that will help us confiscate the properties of economic offenders even in foreign countries. We are making all efforts to bring him back. If the government was not honest, we wouldn’t have got this Bill. It’s a baseless allegation that we closed our eyes deliberately.
Any timeline for Nirav Modi’s return?
Let us wait.
There have been vociferous protests in Assam against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill that proposes citizenship for Bangladeshi Hindus?
We will talk to everyone and a decision will be taken after taking them into confidence. Representatives of Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) met me on the issue. The Congress met me on the progress of the National Register of Citizens (NRC)
People are being lynched in the name of cow, Bharat Mata and the national anthem and there are several such videos in circulation. Isn’t it concerning?
It is not a new type of crime. The State government has taken cognisance of the (recent) incident in Assam and five people were arrested. It is not that lynchings have increased. Videos are not only circulated from here. They come from outside the country as well. These are sporadic incidents but they should not happen. The Home Ministry had issued advisories when violence in the name of cow protection increased. State governments have to take cognisance of such incidents. The Centre is not responsible. The PM has also taken a tough stand on this.
What is the strategy on Rohingya?
The Home Ministry has directed that a survey should be done. Rohingya should be numbered and their biometrics captured. There are strict directions that no such document should go into their hands with which they could claim citizenship in future. Once the States provide us with the information, we will ask the External Affairs Ministry to talk to Myanmar. We have spoken to them once, but we will give them more information. All Rohingya would be deported.
But Myanmar doesn’t recognise them as its citizens?
But they belong to Myanmar. How does it matter if they recognise them as citizens or not? There is no definite figure on how many Rohingya are there in India. Some say 40,000, some say it is 50,000.
How did they reach Jammu?
We have some idea how they reached Jammu but who were the people behind it needs to be known. There is no inhuman attitude against them. I won’t say they came under duress, but the fact is that they have come here and they have to go back to where they have come from.
Your slogan earlier was acche din (better days), why did you change it?
Saaf niyat se kaam karne par acche din zaroor aate hain (Better days come only when one works with good intentions). There are several decisions that the PM has taken. It can be debated whether they were successful or not, but nobody can doubt his intentions.
You mean demonetisation?
I mean all the decisions. Nobody can doubt his intentions.
Will you have allies at all in the 2019 elections? Why did N. Chandrababu Naidu (TDP) walk out of NDA?
I am surprised why Mr. Naidu walked out of the alliance. We will definitely not have fewer allies in 2019. Friendships are not need-based.
What are you doing about rape and death threats that women get on social media platforms?
We are strengthening cybersecurity. Nobody should post stuff that hurts anyone. Legal action is being taken and it is the responsibility of the State government.
You held a meeting on strengthening PM’s security?
I have directed everyone that a thorough security review should be done and security should be tightened as much as possible. There are inputs other than the e-mail seized by the Pune police (from some alleged Maoists threatening PM with Rajiv Gandhi-like assassination). He is a popular PM, India is progressing fast under him and there would be many countries that don’t like India’s rise and could go to any lengths to destabilise the country. We cannot rule out this possibility. A PM under whom the country has progressed so fast, worrying about his security is our concern.
What about a ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI). Whenever an election approaches, we get to hear that PFI is being banned?
I don’t know.
