The induction of Rajeev Jasrotia, a ‘hardline' face of the BJP, into the Mehbooba Mufti-led government and the unceremonious exit of state Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh – who had backed his ally and chief minister for refusing to hand over the Kathua rape case to the CBI – is a "calculated move" by the Right-wing party to save its political equity in the Hindu heartland of Jammu and Kashmir.
Jasrotia – the MLA from Kathua who attended one of the demonstrations organised by the Hindu Ekta Manch in Hira Nagar, part of his home constituency, in the Jammu region in March to rally support for the alleged rapists of the child in Kathua and to demand a CBI probe into the case – is one of the four new faces in the Cabinet. His induction has sparked a political row in the state.
Raking up the issue, former chief minister Omar Abdullah said Jasrotia was part of the rally in Hira Nagar – the same rally for which forest minister Lal Singh and industries minister Chander Prakash Ganga had to face the axe for participating. “... a MLA who is reported to have attended the same rally is promoted as a minister. Why are the BJP/ @MehboobaMufti confused about where they stand on the #Kathua rape?”