Speeches in Parliament Vol. (I)-95

... Of all the persons, hon. Member Shri. Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad has no right to say that the elections were rigged. How were you elected to this house ?

Shri Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad : By the people’s votes.

Shri Y. B. Chavan : Those members who gave him votes also gave votes to those people who are sitting in the Assembly. What is the use of saying this ? Your membership of this House, your right to address this House is the result of your election, which you say is rigged. A very wonderful idea. (Interruptions)

Shri Hem Barua : You are scoring a debating point only.

Shri Y. B. Chavan : What am I supposed to do in the debate ? Am I supposed to lose the point here ? We are in a debate.

... What I have said is, whatever has happened about these matters, they are before the Election Tribunals. Some of them were rejected. The judges have decided about those matters. Action is being taken about it. What is wrong is wrong. To say that the whole elections are false is not correct. Can you say that the tradition of elections was false in Jammu and Kashmir? Where he was concerned the elections are good. It is taking a partisan point of view. I do not want to get involved in this. Therefore, our whole approach to this problem will have to be a problem of understanding, problem of practical approach and an attitude of realism which will alone help us to create that affinity between us and the prople of Kashmir. That, really speaking, is the main thing I want to say. An hon. Member suggested that we can start negotiations with Kashmir. Shri Vajpayee has suggested, “Don’t look at him”.

We are very clear about the place of Kashmir in India. There is no doubt on that question whether we meet anybody or not. We can always consider the problem on its own merits. Considering all the aspects of the problem as I have already stated in this hon. House. I do not want to add anything more or substract anything out of that. I would say this to the hon. member, Shri. Vajpayee, who may not be convinced because I know it is difficult to convince him.

I can only say that his main demand was to abrogate article 370. It is not in the interest of anybody to abrogate this article at the present moment. So, I request him to withdraw the resolution.