Won't tolerate raising of pro-Pakistan slogans: Rajnath Singh

Kolkata, May 26: Affirming the BJP's stand on abrogating Article 370 of the constitution, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday asserted the government will not tolerate anyone raising pro-Pakistan slogans.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which heads the ruling National Democratic Alliance government, has steadfastly demanded over the years that Article 370 which guarantees a special status to Jammu and Kashmir be repealed.

"There are no two ways about our stand on Article 370," Singh told mediapersons here.

"But a new government has come to power in Jammu and Kashmir and the BJP, for the first time, has got the opportunity to be part of the state government. So let development take place first," he said.

"But whatever we want to do we will do it taking in confidence the common masses," said Singh," the home minister added.

Replying to media queries about Pakistan flags being regularly displayed in Kashmir by separatists, Singh said the government will not tolerate anyone taking pro-Pakistan stand on the Indian soil.

"We cannot allow anybody to give a slogan of 'Pakistan zindabad' on the Indian soil. BJP believes that all Indians, be it Hindus, Muslim or Christians, are nationalists.

"But if anyone standing on Indian soil shouts Pakistan zindabad, then no matter from which religion he belongs, the government will not accept that," he said.

"We all know why Masarat Alam was arrested," said Singh, referring to the hardline separatist who was arrested on April 17 for sedition and waging war against the state after Pakistan flags were waived and Pro-Pakistan slogans raised in a rally in Srinagar city to welcome Syed Ali Shah Geelani for returing to the valley from New Delhi.

Singh said both -- the central government and the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed Jammu and Kashmir government -- were committed towards the rehabilitation of Kashmiri pandits.

"As regards the rehabilitation of Kashmiri pandits, we have created a fund. We have been talking to the J&K chief minister and he has assured that he will provide land to the Kashmiri pundits for their rehabilitation," Singh added.

IANS