Jammu: Union Home Minister Amit Shah Friday released the BJP’s manifesto for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls, and asserted that Article 370 has become “history” and will never make a comeback in the Union territory.
He also said that BJP will release a ‘white paper’ on 40,000 killings in J&K, and fix the responsibility of those involved in the emergence of terrorism.
Shah took the occasion to assert that India was not in favour of talks with Pakistan until terrorism ceases, emphasizing that “talks and bombs cannot go together”.
Addressing a press conference here, the senior BJP leader said the “last 10-year period will be written in golden letters in the history of the country and J&K”, and urged people to vote his party to power to continue “good governance”.
Shah reached Jammu earlier in the day on a two-day visit to kickstart the BJP’s campaign for the assembly polls scheduled to be held in three phases on September 18, 25 and October 1.
“I have gone through the National Conference agenda. I want to make it clear to the whole country that Article 370 has become history and will never make a comeback,” the Union home minister said in his speech before releasing the BJP manifesto.
He said Article 370 is not part of the Constitution anymore. “This Article has only given arms and stones in the hands of the youth and facilitated them to tread the path of terrorism,” Shah added.
The BJP leader also accused the previous governments of bowing down before separatism and said peace, development and social justice were restored on the ground after the abrogation of Article 370.
“There used to be a time when separatists were calling the shots and making demands. The governments were bowing down before groups like the Hurriyat Conference… different state and non-state actors linked to terrorism and separatism destabilised J&K as all the governments were involved in appeasement. But after 2014, whenever the history of India and J&K will be written, I believe these 10 years will be written about in golden words,” he said.
Shah added that the “past 10 years saw peace, prosperity and development”.
“The sound of guns and bomb blasts used to be heard in Kashmir for a very long time but everything changed in the last 10 years. A total of 7,217 (terror-related) incidents happened between 2004 and 2014 but the number dropped to 2,272 between 2014 and 2024, marking a 70 per cent decrease. The overall killings also dropped by 76 per cent and civilian killings by 80 per cent while there is a huge downward trend in security force casualties,” the minister said.
He said stone-pelting incidents dropped from 2,654 in 2010 to zero post-August 2019, while Pakistan-sponsored strikes also came down to zero from 132 earlier.
Not a single person died nor were security personnel injured in stone-peltings as compared to 112 deaths in the previous years, Shah said.
“After 30 years, Kashmir tourism has got a big boost. Nightshows have become the new reality and processions by Shia mourners are being allowed for the first time in more than 32 years. Amarnath Yatra and Vaishno Devi pilgrimage also witnessed record-breaking numbers,” he said.
Shah said that terrorism will be completely eradicated from Jammu and Kashmir. “A white paper will be issued to fix the responsibility of those involved in the emergence of terrorism in J&K,” he added.
He said BJP always wanted integration of J&K with the Union of India. “Till 2014, J&K was plagued by separatism and terrorism. We also saw Hurriyat-backed governments in J&K,” Shah said.
However, “after 2014, a new chapter of peace and prosperity was started under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendera Modi,” Shah said, adding that it was due to the efforts and “historic decision” on August 5, 2019 and today “Article 370 and Article 35 is no longer the party of our constitution.”
Taking a jibe at Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, Shah said Rahul must explain as to whether he and his party supports the NC manifesto that promises restoration of Article 370, release of stone-pelters and prisoners “involved in promoting secessionism”.
“I want to ask Rahul, does he and his party want revival of terrorism, separatism in J&K? Does Rahul support restoration of two flags and Article 370? He won’t answer. But I want to state here that Rahul is very much in support of the NC manifesto,” Shah said.
Replying to a query about restoration of statehood to J&K, he said: “I as a home minister have promised on the floor of the house that statehood will be granted to J&K at an appropriate time after assembly polls. Why demand something that has already been accepted?”
Responding to a question about the NC and PDP demand for talks with Pakistan and the restoration of cross-LoC trade, Shah said, “Unless terrorism comes to an end and the trade-terror ecosystem is dismantled, we cannot agree with it.”
Taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi for his silence on the NC’s manifesto, which advocates the restoration of Article 370, Shah said, “You should ask this question to the Congress. Whatever they do, nothing is going to happen.
“The agenda of NC cannot get implemented on the ground. Article 370 is the past. It is history. Nobody can bring it back,” the Union minister said.
Asked about separatists entering politics through elections, Shah said, “I do not have concerns about separatists. The people of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in the valley, have decided to support Narendra Modi-ji in making J&K free of terrorism. I hope that your question has been seen by Rahul Gandhi.”
Criticising the “contradiction between the NC manifesto and Rahul Gandhi’s stance on reservations”, Shah said, “There is a contradiction. This is a trait of Congress as they differ in what they say and what they do.
“I want to reassure the people of Jammu and Kashmir that Gujjar Bakerwal, Pahari, OBC, Dalit — the reservation given to them by us — nobody will snatch it. We will definitely continue,” the BJP leader said.
Commenting on Omar Abdullah’s decision to contest two seats, Shah said, “What can I say? First, he did not want to contest because of fear. Then he contested one seat following pressure on him.
“Now, one seat is not enough, he is contesting two seats. But Omar Sahib, the people are not with you,” the Union minister said.
On the rehabilitation of displaced Kashmiri migrants, Shah said, “We have given them migrant status in two ways. Those who have come here from the valley are called migrants. A detailed policy will be framed. We will ensure permanent rehabilitation.”
He said the government is working on formulating corrective measures for those who had sold their properties at the peak of terrorism.
“At that time, a lot of Kashmiri Pandits, Hindus and Sikhs sold their properties and did not receive fair prices. We have been working on giving them the proper rate or getting their properties back. The work to provide jobs to 6,000 people in the valley is also complete,” he said.
Responding to Gandhi’s remarks that outsiders are ruling J&K, Shah said, “If he says presidential rule is outsider rule, then I want to tell Rahul Gandhi that there was more presidential rule during your time in J&K. Your so-called friends were not even living in the valley then. They were in London. The people were left to die here.”
He further added that this rule is necessary because Congress was instrumental in the birth of terrorism, injustice and the failure to scrap Article 370.
Reassuring the public, Shah said, “I cannot spell out the plan but nobody should be afraid. Security measures have been fully implemented by the Narendra Modi government and the J&K administration.”
Replying to a question on Abdullah’s remarks that unlike outside, Muslims will not be allowed to get suppressed in the valley, Shah dismissed the claim, stating, “Nothing of the sort is happening anywhere. There is no question of it in Kashmir.”
He ruled out the possibility of a hung Assembly in Jammu and Kashmir.
Asked whether the BJP could form a government with NC and PDP in case of a hung Assembly, Shah said, “There will be no government by the PDP, NC and Congress dynasties. Other possibilities, the BJP will explore.”
Appealing to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to vote for the BJP in the assembly elections, Shah said, “Give us a five-year tenure to ensure the development of the region.” (With inputs from PTI & KNO)
