Rajnath Singh to India Today on Operation Conversion Factory: Action will be taken against PFI

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today vowed appropriate action on India Today's expose of large-scale conversions and hawala funding at Kerala's Popular Front of India (PFI).

"We have taken cognizance of it. We had been getting some information before. Whatever lawful and appropriate action is possible, it will be taken based on some more information," Singh said.

The home minister added, "Specific action can't be said of (disclosed) now. Whatever action is lawful, whatever action is legally permitted and is found to be appropriate will be taken. I believe the nation too would be satisfied that no one would be spared if found to be involved in illegal and anti-national activities. That's our government's clear policy."

When asked whether any talks were possible with the Hurriyat leaders, Singh said that the Centre has given "full freedom" to its Jammu and Kashmir interlocutor, Dineshwar Sharma, to decide stakeholders for talks to resolve the protracted crisis in the valley.

"Whatever he does or doesn't is to be decided solely by Dineshwar Sharma. It's entirely up to the government representative to decide whom the talks should be held with. He has been given no specific brief. He has all the freedom to decide who he wants to talk with," Singh said.

Sharma, a former director of the Intelligence Bureau, was appointed the central interlocutor in October for a sustained dialogue with stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir in a bid to restore peace in the state.

"Dineshwar Sharma, the representative of government of India, hasn't been sent with his hands tied. He's been given full freedom to hold talks and come out with a definite decision," the home minister remarked while on an election tour of Himachal Pradesh.

The move to appoint Sharma as a central interlocutor was driven by the government's intent to explore ways and means to resolve any possible "grievances" in the valley, Singh insisted.   

"I believe that no problem can solely be resolved through force, whether police or military. People's grievances should also be examined. If there are any grievances that could be resolved, we will try to resolve them. That's why we have appointed an interlocutor," said the home minister. "The interlocutor will go there, talk to people and give us his report."

Singh disagreed with the Hurriyat accusations that Sharma's appointment was an eyewash, saying the unrest in the valley warranted a deeper analysis for a possible resolution.

"The truth is if there are any problems, they should be resolved. What are the reasons that lead to such situations? That's why we have appointed an interlocutor of the government of India to go into the depth," the home minister said.

Asked if he had already identified issues in Jammu and Kashmir, Singh noted that the centre was willing to examine any problems that could be amicably addressed.

"I am not saying there already are some (identified) grievances. What I am saying is if there are any grievances that could resolved, they should be resolved if it lies in the interest of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and in the interest of the state."

The centre's decision to name Sharma as the new interlocutor came after local delegations in Jammu and Kashmir suggested to the home minister during his latest tour to the valley that a special representative be appointed for talks, Singh said. "It's only after that the government decided to appoint a representative and Dineshwar Sharma was chosen (for the job)."

The home minister, however, clarified that the process for starting negotiations wasn't time-bound. "This all depends on how long does it take for talks (to start). We have set no timeframe for this. The sooner talks could start, the better it would be," he said.

Singh expressed hope that the centre's move wouldn't end up in failure as happened on three occasions before under previous governments.

"How can we say that if it didn't happen three times before, it won't succeed this time as well," the minister insisted. "I am definitely hopeful that's why the government of India has appointed its representative. We wouldn't have if there was no hope."

He also rebutted claims that the decision was aimed at pacifying Washington. "We don't take decisions under pressure. No third power can interfere in internal affairs of India," Singh said.

Asked about Pakistan's repeated attempts to interfere in Kashmir, he warned Islamabad to stay out of India's domestic issues. "It's not that we depend on Pakistan to establish peace here. Pakistan is a neighbouring country. It should not interfere in India's internal matters. That said, I am confident we will come out with a solution. Jammu and Kashmir was, is and will remain integral part of India."

The home minister credited intelligence agencies for successful operations against high-value terror targets.

Incidents of stone-pelting in the valley, he said, have come considerably down. "We take that in a positive spirit. People are gradually realising stone-pelting is not the solution to the problem," Singh said.

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