No dialogue with Pakistan until terrorism ends: Home Minister

Ramban, Sep 16: Union Home Minister and BJP star campaigner Amit Shah Monday reiterated that there would be no talks with Pakistan until terrorism ended in J&K.

While addressing a rally at Chanderkote in Ramban on the last day of campaigning for the first phase of J&K assembly elections, Shah said that the Congress-National Conference alliance wanted to revive terrorism in J&K.

“They want the resumption of LoC trade. It (LoC) trade will not start until terrorism ends here. Same LoC trade nurtured terrorism here,” he said and warned NC vice president Omar Abdullah against “vote bank politics.”

He said, “For their political gains for 30-35 years, they made Jammu and Kashmir to burn by pushing it to the vortex of terrorism.” “More than 40,000 people were martyred, are they (Rahul Gandhi and Dr Farqooq Abdullah) ready to take responsibility,” he questioned.

“I want to ask Farooq Abdullah and Rahul Gandhi if they will take responsibility for the death and destruction in Jammu and Kashmir due to terrorism. I know they are not ready to take responsibility. But our government will guarantee issuing a white paper, fixing accountability for all the victims of terrorism,” Shah promised.

“They want to throw Jammu and Kashmir back in the fire of terrorism by reinstating Article 370 and 35-A,” he said.

While targeting NC and its leader Dr Farooq Abdullah, Shah said that when terrorism erupted in Jammu and Kashmir in 1990, he (Farooq) was enjoying in London.

He criticized Rahul Gandhi for supporting the agenda of the National Conference. “We have done lot of development in Ramban” Shah said, while mentioning Chenani-Nashri tunnel, Banihal-Qazigund tunnel, Ramban flyover, up gradation of two lane NH into four lane, up gradation of three higher secondary schools, Sangaldan railway station, construction of Ramban –Maitra Bridge, Oxygen generation plant at District Hospital.

“Farooq Abdullah's family was in power for three generations, the people of Jammu and Kashmir never received free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh. PM Modi provided free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh to everyone including elderly people. He has provided 5 kg rice free of cost to every household in our Jammu Kashmir and has provided tap water to every household,” he said.

The Union Home Minister added that the same alliance, the Nehru family, Gandhi family and Abdullah family, which spread terrorism, was seeking the people's blessings again. “The opposition not only insulted the Maharaja of Jammu and Kashmir but also did not allow his body to return after his death. Maharaja Karan Singh himself stated that his father's body was not allowed to return to Jammu and Kashmir, only his ashes reached here,” he said.

“Sometimes Omar Abdullah says he won’t contest elections because he fears losing. Sometimes he talks about contesting from Ganderbal, but when a young leader stands up, he says he’ll contest from two seats. Regardless of where he chooses to contest from, Omar Abdullah’s defeat is certain,” he said.

The Union Home Minister pointed out that the relationship between Abdullah and the Congress party spanned three generations. “Sometimes Indira Gandhi would imprison Sheikh Abdullah and then release him. Rajiv Gandhi later compromised with Abdullah, and now Rahul Gandhi is making compromises with Omar Abdullah. The Congress government had once jailed Sheikh Abdullah on charges of treason and even brought a white paper against him and his family in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly. If Rahul Gandhi has the courage, he should address that white paper,” he said.

Shah said it was surprising to see what the lure of power could do. “The Congress party, which once labelled the Abdullah family as traitors and held them responsible for terrorism, jailing Omar Abdullah's grandfather for years, is now showering them with affection just to try to score a win against PM Modi,” he said.