Chenani/Udhampur/Bani: Ahead of the third and final phase of polling in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly election next week, Union Home Minister Amit Shah intensified attacks on the Congress, National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party on Thursday, saying the three dynastic parties are responsible for terrorism, which has been buried by the BJP and will not be allowed to stage a comeback.
Promising a terror-free Jammu and Kashmir under the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) regime, Shah alleged that the National Conference-Congress alliance would implement “Pakistan’s agenda” if it comes to power in the Union Territory.
Addressing back-to-back rallies in the Chenani and Udhampur Assembly segments in support of the BJP candidates, Shah said the world has its eyes on the Jammu and Kashmir election, which is taking place for the first time after the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution were abrogated.
The government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi fulfilled the dream of BJP patriarch Syama Prasad Mukherjee in August 2019, when it abrogated Article 370, in line with his slogan — “ek desh me do vidhan, do pradhan aur do nishan nahi chalenge” — Shah said.
The home minister said whoever spreads terror in Jammu and Kashmir will get his answer at the gallows.
“I want to ask you, whether (Parliament attack convict) Afzal Guru should have been hanged or not? The NC and the Congress are now saying he should not have been hanged…,” he said, adding “Phir kya biryani khilani thi usko (was I supposed to serve him Biryani instead). Those who would promote terrorism will meet the same fate as that of Afzal Guru!”
“They want to release stone pelters and terrorists. Omar Abdullah gave up these dreams because you cannot do it. It is the duty of courts and we have enforced such laws that nobody will dare to hurl a stone anymore,” Shah said at the first rally in Udhampur district’s Chenani area.
The first phase of polling was held on September 18, followed by the second phase on September 25. The third phase, covering 40 Assembly seats in Jammu, Udhampur, Samba, Kathua and the north Kashmir districts of Kupwara, Baramulla and Bandipora, is scheduled to be held on October 1.
“This election is very important as Jammu and Kashmir was under the shadow of terrorism for nearly 40 years. If they (the NC-Congress alliance) win this election, it means the success of the Pakistan agenda,” Shah said.
He alleged that the three “dynastic” parties pushed Jammu and Kashmir into terrorism and said as a result, 40,000 people were killed in 35 years and 3,003 days of civil curfew observed. But after the Modi government came to power and Article 370 was abrogated, there was no stone-pelting, firing or bomb blasts, Shah claimed.
“The NC, PDP and Congress want to revive terrorism. Whatever your wish, we will bury terrorism in ‘pataal’ (under the ground). No one has the power to revive terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir as the Modi government is there at the Centre,” he said.
Referring to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s assertion that the INDIA opposition bloc will put pressure on the BJP regarding the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood after the election, Shah said, “Omar and Rahul are talking about statehood. When I revoked Article 370, I made a promise of returning statehood to Jammu and Kashmir immediately after the election.
“Modi has also promised it from his public rallies in Srinagar and Jammu. Statehood can only be restored by Parliament and Modi is ruling there,” he said.
The home minister asserted that statehood will be restored in Jammu and Kashmir and it will be done by the Modi government.
The home minister also slammed the NC and the Congress for talking about restoration of Article 370 and said even the next few generations of their leadership would not be able to fulfill this promise.
At the Udhampur rally, Shah said Article 370 was the biggest cause behind terrorism not only in Kashmir but in the Jammu region as well.
“This election is being watched by the world as it is happening under one Constitution and our beloved flag. On one hand is the BJP, which has buried terrorism in ‘pataal’, and on the other are the NC, Congress and PDP, who want to restore Article 370 and revive terrorism,” he said.
These parties have talked about releasing stone pelters, dialogue with Pakistan and resumption of cross-border trade, he said, adding, “This is not the Abdullahs’ rule, this is the Modi government and no such thing will be allowed.”
Referring to Gandhi’s recent jibe at Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, whom he described as “king”, Shah said, “Rahul baba is saying outsiders are ruling Jammu and Kashmir. He was referring to LG. Those guiding him might not be well versed with the history of Jammu and Kashmir, because the longest tenure of central rule in the region had happened during the rule of his grandmother (former prime minister Indira Gandhi) and father (Rajiv Gandhi).”
“It was your grandmother’s father, Jawaharlal Nehru, whose mistake resulted in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir being under the occupation of Pakistan…,” he added.
Later in the day, at Bani, Shah said the BJP-led Centre will not allow even the “shadow of terrorism” over the hills of the Jammu region as it has taken concrete measures and strengthened the village defence guards to counter the threat.
Shah’s remarks came as several hill areas of the Jammu region, including Doda, Kishtwar, Kathua, Udhampur and Reasi districts, have recorded a spurt in terror-related incidents since April.
“Let Pakistan do whatever it wants, we will not allow the shadow of terrorism in the hills of the Jammu region. We have strengthened the VDGs and youngsters in villages and given them INSAS rifles to fight terrorism,” the home minister told an election rally in the Bani Assembly segment of Kathua district.
Kathua witnessed a deadly ambush by terrorists on an Army patrol in the remote forest belt of Machedi on July 8, resulting in the killing of five soldiers, including a junior commissioned officer (JCO).
Seeking votes for the BJP candidates in the ongoing Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls, Shah said if the saffron party registers an electoral victory in the Union Territory, it will be celebrated across the country.
“If the NC-Congress alliance wins, there will be fireworks in Pakistan. Do you want Pakistan to celebrate?” he asked the gathering.
He said the Congress and the NC have joined hands for the Jammu and Kashmir polls and are saying “our friendship is everlasting”.
“Rahul baba (Congress leader Rahul Gandhi) does not know that (NC vice president) Omar Abdullah’s grandfather, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, was jailed by his grandmother (former prime minister) Indira Gandhi on treason charges,” Shah added.
He said Abdullah is dreaming of becoming the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir again. “After two phases of polling (on September 18 and September 25), the NC-Congress alliance has been wiped out. Come October 8, the BJP will form the next government in Jammu and Kashmir,” Shah said.
The counting of the votes polled in the Jammu and Kashmir election will be taken up on October 8.
The home minister took a jibe at Abdullah for contesting the election from two seats, after changing his decision not to enter the poll fray till Jammu and Kashmir continues to be a Union Territory, and said this is the outcome of fear.
“Under fear, he said he will not fight (polls) till statehood is restored but changed his mind and announced his decision to contest the election from Ganderbal. Again, the fear of defeat made him file his candidature from another seat (Budgam),” Shah said.
The home minister promised a special recruitment drive for youngsters in Jammu and Kashmir and said “we want to arm our youngsters to safeguard the country”. (With inputs from PTI & KNO)
“Give up arms and come for talks”: Amit Shah extends olive branch to terrorists in J&K
Extending an olive branch to the terrorists operating in Jammu and Kashmir, Union Home Minister Amit Shah asked them on Thursday to give up arms and come forward for talks with the government or be prepared to get neutralised at the hands of security forces.
“For vote-bank politics, they (opposition parties) are asking for talks with terrorists. If they want to talk, let them come forward after giving up arms. In the northeast, 10,000 people have surrendered,” the senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said, addressing a poll rally in this Assembly segment in Kathua district.
This was Shah’s fourth rally of the day in Udhampur and Kathua districts, which along with Jammu and Samba districts and three north Kashmir districts of Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora, are scheduled to go to polls in the third and final phase of the Assembly election on October 1.
“Give up arms and come for talks, otherwise our forces will hunt you down,” the home minister said, pledging to bury terrorism in “pataal” (under the ground).
He said the BJP has strengthened grassroot-level democracy in Jammu and Kashmir, which is now moving forward on the path of development after suffering immensely due to terrorism for more than three decades.
