Governor’s rule in J&K Congress legacy: Amit Shah

Jammu, Sep 26: Union Home Minister Amit Shah Thursday hit back at senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi reminding him that J&K spent “maximum period under Governor-rule during Congress regimes.”

Reiterating that there would be no dialogue with Pakistan till cessation of terrorism in J&K, he asserted that the BJP government would only talk to youth here.

Talks with terrorists (in J&K) could be possible only if they gave up arms, Shah said.

He stated this while addressing back to back five election rallies in Chenani, Udhampur, Bani, Kathua and Marh in Jammu region to seek support for party candidates in the third phase of assembly elections.

In a strong retort to Rahul’s repeated “outsider” remark – a reference to the Lieutenant Governor of J&K, Shah said, “Those writing Rahul’s addresses are inept. Reading from the scripted address, Rahul said that J&K was being run by outsiders. He was referring to the Lieutenant Governor here. He (Rahul) needs to revise his history chapters. I need to remind Rahul Baba that Jammu and Kashmir has spent a maximum period under Governor-rule during the regimes of Congress, helmed by your great-grandfather, grandmother and father.”

In another dig at Congress-National Conference combine, Union Home Minister mocked, “Today they (Congress and NC leadership) say – Congress-NC combine is a natural alliance. Perhaps Rahul Baba does not remember that his grandmother Indira Gandhi had put Omar Abdullah’s grandfather Sheikh Abdullah in prison under treason charges. Today you’re fighting an election in alliance with his (Sheikh’s) grand-son (Omar Abdullah).”

“Omar is also dreaming to be the Chief Minister with the support of Congress. But let me share with you (people) that two phases of assembly elections have ensured complete rout of Congress and National Conference. It will be the BJP government and not that of Congress and NC, which will be in place after October 8 (the day election results are to be announced),” he said.

NO TALKS WITH TERRORISTS UNTIL THEY SURRENDER

Referring to Omar Abdullah’s statement against hanging of Afzal Guru, Shah said, “Omar can relish ‘Biryani’ with terrorists but in BJP government, those take up arms, indulge in terror acts and work against country will meet this fate (hanging).”

He said that the NC-Congress combine was advocating for dialogue with terrorists. “We have a clear perception on this account. If they (terrorists) want talks, they need to give up arms. In the North-East, 10,000 people surrendered their arms and became part of the mainstream. They (terrorists in J&K) should take a cue from it otherwise our security forces would eliminate them. This is our resolve to hunt them down from ‘Pataal’ (under the ground),” Shah said.

“They (NC and Congress) are talking of dialogue with Pakistan. After destroying J&K by propagating terrorism during the last 30-35 years, they want to do ILU-ILU with Pakistan. BJP ensured that the spectre of terrorism should not be there in Jammu hills. They want to revive it. They want to run Pakistan’s agenda here. If they come to power, Pakistan will rejoice. Do you want to give an opportunity to Pakistan to celebrate,” Shah asked people.

Targetting NC President Dr Farooq Abdullah, Union Home Minister said, “He is equating the army with terrorists. Farooq Sahib, I know you don’t like the army. But you should be ashamed of what you said about the army. It is because of our army that J&K is an integral part of India. Thousands of army personnel and other security personnel laid down their precious lives while fighting against terrorists, to safeguard the country's sovereignty and integrity.”

On account of reservation, Shah said that Rahul Gandhi recently gave a statement that reservation would be scrapped. “However, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave reservation to Valmikis, Paharis, Gujjars, border residents besides 10 percent reservation to Economically Weaker Sections (EWS). But they (Congress and NC) state that reservation of Dalits and STs would be removed. In the US, Rahul while conversing in English, said that reservation would be scrapped as backwardness of Dalit, OBCs and Adivasis was removed and they were developed communities now. But let me make it clear to him (Rahul), as long as even a single MP of BJP is there, reservation cannot be scrapped, come what may,” Shah said.

Referring to the NC manifesto, he announced that the stone-pelters and terror accused would not be released, irrespective of “desires expressed by Dr Farooq Abdullah.” “Courts will take a call on that account,” he added.

At the Marh rally, he also paid obeisance to Baba Jitto, revolutionary farmer hero.

Targetting Congress-NC duo, Union Home Minister said that there was a time when Congress had brought a white paper against NC but later withdrew it. “After the J&K assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will bring a White Paper on terrorism. It will expose Farooq Abdullah family, Congress and Mufti families while bringing to the fore as to who brought terrorism to the Kashmir valley. Who helped propagate terrorism in the valley? Whose government was there at the Centre and in J&K that time – Who relished Biryanis with the terrorists? White Paper would reveal everything,” Shah said.

He stated that NC-Congress resolved to bring back a separate flag to replace Tricolour but BJP would not let it happen. “Our Tricolour is flying high proudly at present in J&K. I dare them – do whatever you can, now in J&K, only Tricolour will be there and no other flag can replace it,” he said.

He said that Congress and the National Conference with their anti-development and pro-terrorist stance damaged J&K.

“They talk about restoring Article 370, but even the next three generations of Abdullah and Congress family won't be able to bring it back,” he reiterated.

“Farooq Sahib wanted to restart trade across the LoC and release terrorists from prisons. He collected money through land-border trade. The Modi government stopped it. They are talking about the release of stone pelters and terrorists. We will not let it happen,” Shah said.

“For 30-35 years, terrorism gripped J&K, with 3,000 days of curfew and 40,000 lives lost. During this time, where was Farooq Abdullah? He was vacationing in London while Kashmir was burning. After Narendra Modi came to power, terrorists were eliminated one by one. The BJP not only has a future development agenda, but has also proven its work in the last 10 years,” he said.

Union Home Minister mentioned, “It is only under Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji’s leadership that people currently have Rs 5 lakh golden card, which will soon be increased to Rs 10 lakh. The poor are receiving 5 kg of food grains, and farmers get Rs 6,000, which will rise to Rs 10,000. The BJP has worked to ensure every household has access to water, electricity, security, roads, bridges and new educational facilities.”

He announced that the Prime Minister decided to connect even small populations of 50 people in the hilly regions with permanent roads.

Taking a dig at Congress, he said that former Home Minister and Congress leader Sushil Kumar Shinde admitted fearing to visit the Lal Chowk, but under the Modi government, anyone could walk there without fear, as security greatly improved under BJP rule.

“I invite him to visit Lal Chowk with his grand-children. He won’t need security or Bullet-Proof vehicles now because of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s transformative impact in Jammu & Kashmir. After three decades, cinema theatres now operate at night in the Valley and after 35 years, Tazia processions, Janmashtami celebrations and Ganesh Chaturthi are being held again,” he said.

The Union Home Minister described “assembly elections 2024” as “very significant election not just for J&K but for the entire country.”

“This is for the first time that elections are being held here under one flag and one constitution,” he said.

“Post Article 370, there is no stone-pelting, there are no bomb explosions. We have a resolve to bury terrorism deep down the ground. We also strengthened Village Defence Guards by providing them with advanced weapons,” Shah said.

In a dig at Omar, the Union Home Minister said that he was demanding elections. “When elections were announced, he became scared. Prior to it, he had announced not to contest assembly elections till statehood was restored. But then he decided to contest from two places. Let me tell him- even if he would have contested from three places, this time, they won’t be able to form a government,” he said.

Regarding statehood, Shah reiterated that it was promised by BJP and it would be restored by it. “They (Congress and NC) are promising to restore it. It can be restored only by the Parliament and by the central government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is there at the helm of affairs. It would be restored after assembly elections as early as possible but by PM Modi only and none else,” he said.