'The Challenge Is To Quickly Take The Benefits Of Our Move To The People'

Ram Madhav, BJP national general secretary and the party’s key interlocutor for Jammu and Kashmir, attributes the relative calm in the Valley in the aftermath of the ‘dilution’ of Article 370 to the Centre’s engagement with the people. Madhav spoke exclusively to Group Editorial Director Raj Chengappa on the developing situation in the Valley and the way forward. Excerpts:

- Raj Chengappa

Q. What do you see as the key challenges now for the Modi government in Jammu and Kashmir?

A. The people in the state are largely in thinking mode. They are not ready to go to any extreme immediately. Even if they have reservations, my input from the Valley is that a good number of social and community leaders have come forward to tell our administration that they will manage the situation and make sure, to the extent possible, that no violence takes place. This has become possible because of our engagements in the past five years. Even if some are angry with what we have done, they are still ready to give it a chance. That certainly is a good sign and happened due to the efforts of the administration and its sincerity to deliver goods to the people in the past year or so. That is working in our favour now.

Q. People may not be expressing their anger because of the heavy security deployment in the Valley?