Are NC, Congress fighting elections as Pak’s proxies: Rajnath

Rajouri, Sep 22: Defence minister Rajnath Singh Sunday, while taking exception to Pakistan Defence Minister’s recent statement, asked Congress and National Conference if they were working as proxies of Pakistan.

He also accused Pakistan of interfering in India's internal affairs at a time when it (Pakistan) was confronting instability. “Who gave them (Pakistan) authority to interfere in J&K?” he asked.

While referring to the statement of the former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee that ‘neighbours cannot be changed’, Rajnath stated that India was ready to have dialogue with Pak if it guaranteed cessation of sponsoring terrorism in J&K.

He stated this while addressing public rallies at Poonch Haveli, Kotranka, Sunderbani in Rajouri-Poonch and Sainik Colony in Jammu.

The Defence Minister said that Pakistan was worried about the festival of democracy in Jammu and Kashmir and the recent statement of Pakistan’s defence minister was indicative of it.

He said that NC, Congress and PDP were working as proxies of Pakistan and wanted to bring back Article 370, revive terrorism in J&K and push it towards destruction and unrest.

“I want to tell NC, Congress and PDP that BJP will never Article 370 to be restored in J&K,” Rajnath said.

“I want to ask these parties how they can bring back Article 370? Article 370 can be restored only by the central government and BJP is at the Centre. The NC, Cong and PDP are just misleading the people and have no issue to go to the people,” he said.

“Three families (Abdullahs, Muftis, Gandhis) divided Hindus and Muslims just for the sake of power but we (BJP) don't divide people and believe that all are brothers and Indians,” Singh said.

He said that NC-Congress wanted terrorism in Kashmir by bringing back Article 370 but BJP would not allow this to happen. “Article 370 made J&K people suffer a lot and pushed it back for 70 years,” Rajnath said, while adding, ““People in Jammu and Kashmir have suffered a lot due to terrorism and eighty percent civilian casualties are from Muslim community.”

“There is decline in terrorism after the abrogation of Article 370 and now we have to look forward to the future and forget the past,” he said.

He said that after the abrogation of Article 370, Indian Constitution was implemented in letter and spirit in J&K. “Why Tricolour was not being hoisted or unfurled in Lal Chowk”? he questioned, and said, “Now, after the abrogation of Article 370, the Tiranga is being unfurled in Lal Chowk.”

“It was ironic that you could not hoist Tiranga in Lal Chowk i.e., in your own country. Article 370 abrogation broke all the barriers and now J&K is an integral part of India, Rajnath said.

“Now, J&K is known as a tourist destination instead of a terrorist destination,” he said, adding, “J&K will be the most developed State of the country after the formation of the BJP government.”

He said, “Make BJP government in J&K and see the magic. PM Modi is very sensitive towards J&K and there will be no shortage of funds for the development of J&K.”

The Defence Minister said that not only the entire India but the whole of the world was keeping a close eye on the Assembly elections of J&K.

He also said that Sikhs fought for the country and made supreme sacrifices which the country would never forget.

Rajnath said that the people of PoJK wanted to be part of India after seeing the massive development in J&K. He said that KPs and Muslims together participated in Mela Kheer Bhawani, Amarnath yatra. “This is called Kashmiriyat,” he said.

In a rally in favour of BJP candidate from Budhal assembly constituency, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali, Defence Minister said that elections, a festival of democracy, was at its peak in J&K but Pakistan was worried about it.

“India always wants good relations with Pakistan but on the condition that Pakistan controls terrorism from its soil as talks and terrorism cannot go together. Pakistan is now facing a backlash of harvesting terrorism on its soil,” he said.

Regarding the demand for restoration of statehood, Rajnath Singh said that Jammu and Kashmir's statehood would be restored soon and this was announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself.

Appealing to people for mass participation in polls, the Defence Minister said that high voter turnout in the first phase showed zeal for democracy in J&K. He appealed to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to vote in favour of BJP and to play a role in building a 'Naya Jammu and Kashmir.’

Expressing commitment of the BJP government towards maintenance of order in Jammu and Kashmir, Rajnath said that not even a single incident of stone pelting took place in Jammu and Kashmir after 2014 and this showed commitment and control of the government.

“We controlled stone pelting and I also asked authorities to withdraw FIRs registered for stone pelting against teenagers,” he said, adding that the government was well aware about problems faced by the civilian population of the area due to terrorism.