Terrorism to be buried too deep to resurface in J&K: Home Minister

Jammu, Sep 16: Union Home Minister Amit Shah Monday vowed that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) would bury terrorism too deep to resurface ever in J&K.

While addressing election rallies in Padder-Nagseni in Kishtwar in support of party candidate, Shah stated that attempts were being made to revive wave of terrorism, similar to the 90s, in the region but BJP government defeat all these nefarious designs.

“The NC and Congress promised to release terrorists, if came to power. But this is the Modi government and none can dare to allow terrorism to take roots on Indian soil or promote terrorists or their ecosystem,” he said.

While spelling measures to counter this threat, Shah said, “The Village Defence Guards (VDG) and Special Police Officers (SPO) have been strengthened by replacing their outdated 303 rifles with Self-Loading Rifles (SLR). Additionally, a security grid is being developed to effectively counter terrorism in the mountainous regions.” He criticized the Congress and National Conference for, what he said, “their anti-development and pro-terrorist politics.”

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, former MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, Janki Nath Manhas, Pradeep Parihar and BJP’s candidate for the Paddar-Nagseni assembly constituency, Sunil Sharma, among other BJP candidates for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly were present on the occasion.

Referring to the statement of former Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, Shah said, “A senior Congress leader and former Home Minister recently admitted that during his tenure, he was afraid to visit Kashmir's Lal Chowk. However, under the BJP government's rule, anyone can freely walk through Kashmir and Lal Chowk.”

“Today, Rahul Gandhi leads ‘Padyatra’, Priyanka Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi play in the snow. This was made possibly by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi only. Irony is Rahul rides a bike; eats ice cream and while witnessing the Tricolor fly at Lal Chowk, they hurl insults at the Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” he mocked.

Shah stated that the sacred land of Paddar-Nagseni displayed immense courage and sacrifice in uniting and strengthening India for years.

“It is because of the ancestors of this land that the Indian flag proudly flies here today. We have witnessed the days of partition and the terrorism of the 90s. Whether it was Chandrakant Sharma or Parihar Bandhu, they all made sacrifices. We will not let their sacrifices to go waste. I’m warning those who want to spread reign of terror here. Go back otherwise Indian Army in perfect sync with other security forces would send them where their final destination was. Our unflinching resolve is resolve is to wipe out terrorism, terrorists and their eco-system from our soil forever,” the Home Minister said.

Describing “Kishtwar as a land of martyrs”, he said during the partition of India, the wrong policies of Congress and Nehru made it difficult to decide the future of the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir.

“In times of crisis, the people of Kishtwar have always been ready to make sacrifices. During the terrorism of the 1990s, every citizen here stood by the security forces and played a crucial role in ending terrorism,” he said.

Shah urged the public to support BJP, promising that if given mandate, BJP would strengthen the VDCs and SPOs, working to eradicate terrorism from its roots. Furthermore, with public support, the long-closed sapphire mines, which remained shut due to corruption, would be reopened, filling the state’s treasury and providing jobs for the youth of Paddar.