NC, Congress allied to bring back ‘Jinnah law’, end reservation: Reddy

Jammu, Aug 30: Union Minister for Coal and Mines and BJP In-Charge of J&K Assembly elections, G K Reddy Friday alleged that the National Conference and Congress entered into alliance to bring back “Jinnah law i.e., Article 370” and end reservation to push “J&K back into vortex of terrorism and separatism.”

“Rahul-Omar alliance is promising restoration of Article 370 to separate J&K again from India; its mainstream and again snatch rights of various deprived sections, restored to them by BJP government led by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Our government in 2019 took a historic step by removing this “Jinnah Kanoon” (Jinnah law) and ensured full flow of the Constitution of India to J&K so that all its residents could have equal rights as were available to other citizens in any other part of India,” Reddy said, while addressing a press conference here in Jammu.

“Article 370 is “Jinnah” law; it’s black law as it has been used by the leadership of Congress, NC and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to commit atrocities upon different sections of society and discriminate against poor, women, SCs, STs, children and other deprived sections. Article 370, wrong policies of Congress, its former Prime Ministers Pandit Nehru and Indira Gandhi promoted terrorism and separatism, sponsored by Pakistan.

We all have seen youth, children taking to streets and pelting stones. We ended violence, terrorism here and brought an era of peace and development here. I want to ask the people of J&K – Do they want youth back on streets pelting stones?” he asked.

He alleged that Congress, NC and PDP wanted to bring back era of violence and separatism and questioned the people of J&K if they wanted terrorism back.

“You will have to choose between peace-development and terrorism-separatism. Not just J&K, entire globe is facing this question,” he said.

Reddy said, “Logo Ki Umar Guzar Jaati Hai, Ek Ghar Banane Mein; Magar Unko Sharm Nahi Aati, Unko Jalane Mein…” best suits this (NC-Congress) alliance which is hell bent upon destroying peace in J&K.”

He warned that the alliance’s plans to bring back Article 370 would once again separate J&K from the rest of India and undo the progress made since the BJP's abrogation of the law in 2019.

The Union Minister stated that prior to abrogation of Article 370, the region was plagued by a lack of basic infrastructure, including electricity, roads, water connections, and housing for the poor. Local governance was virtually non-existent, with Panchayat and local self-governing elections rarely held. “However, the implementation of the 42nd and 43rd amendments has ensured that funds are now directly reaching villages, empowering grassroots democracy,” he said.

BJP spokespersons Shazia Ilmi and R P Singh; MP Jugal Kishore Sharma; former Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh; state spokesperson Abhijit Jasrotia and J&K BJP Media Secretary Dr Pardeep Mahotra accompanied Reddy in the press conference.

Reddy stated that the region was finally free from the scourge of stone pelting, which once involved children being coerced into violence against security forces. He also declared that Pakistan-sponsored protests and strikes came to an end and Kashmiri Pandits were being restored to their rightful place with dignity and security.

“These assembly elections in J&K are not just for vote for BJP but are a movement against terrorism and for the restoration of rights to the people of J&K,” Reddy proclaimed. He criticized the Congress-NC alliance, alleging that their manifesto was against peace and development and aligned more closely with Pakistan’s interests than those of the people of India. He cited former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's efforts to foster peaceful relations with Pakistan, which, he alleged, “were rebuffed by Islamabad’s malicious intentions.”

“These same hostile policies are the root of the proxy war against India,” he said.

The Union Minister further stressed, “The critical choice that lies before the people of Jammu & Kashmir is between violence and separatism or peace and development.”

He said people chose second option and urged the electorate to recognize the history of betrayal by parties like the PDP, NC, and Congress, and to vote for the BJP, which, in his words, was the only party committed to the welfare of the people of Jammu and Kashmir especially when it came restoring the dignity of marginalized sections of society including women, SCc, STs, Gorkhas, Valmikis and West Pakistani refugees.

Targetting PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, Reddy accused her of conspiring with Congress and the NC to destabilize the region and return it to an era of violence and separatism. He questioned why a beautiful state like J&K should be made the epi-centre of unrest when people were yearning for development, employment and the full implementation of Dr B R Ambedkar's Constitution.

He pledged that the BJP government at the Centre would continue to work sincerely towards developing J&K on par with other states.

Reddy noted that the BJP manifesto would soon be released, and it would address the needs and aspirations of women, youth, farmers, and marginalized communities, including the underprivileged. He assured the public that the manifesto would reflect the party's commitment to peace and development across all regions of J&K, particularly in Jammu, which he claimed had long been discriminated against by the Abdullah and Mufti families, as well as the Congress.

Criticising Congress and its leadership, he questioned why Rahul Gandhi remained silent on NC’s manifesto, which he claimed discriminated against women and the underprivileged.

Reddy called on Congress to clarify its position on critical issues and accused the party of double standards.

Reddy also took a strong stance against the Congress-NC’s alleged plans to release militants and reopen cross-LoC trade with Pakistan, arguing that these actions would invite separatism and terrorism back into the region.

The Union Minister underscored the monumental changes in Jammu & Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370, pointing to the restoration of peace, security, and equal rights. He assured that the BJP's historic decision liberated the people from a law that had perpetuated discrimination and violence for decades.

Reddy exuded confidence that the people of Jammu and Kashmir would reject any attempt to revive Article 370 and would support the BJP’s vision for peace, progress, and development. He urged voters to recognize this election as a movement, not just a political contest, aimed at securing the rights and future of every citizen in the region.