Watching Kashmir situation; neither Farooq nor Rahul forming Govt in J&K: Amit Shah

Jammu, Sep 16: Union Home Minister Amit Shah Monday alluded to fluid political situation in Kashmir to predict that neither the government of Farooq Abdullah nor that of Rahul Gandhi would be in place in J&K, after assembly elections.

Prediction came as a reiteration of his (Shah’s) and his party’s stance spurning the claims of “National Conference and Congress to restore Article 370 after coming to power.”

The Home Minister prophesied this, while addressing a big rally in Padder-Nagseni, an assembly segment in Kishtwar district, on the last day of campaigning for the first phase of J&K assembly elections.

Eight seats of three districts viz., Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban of Chenab valley in Jammu region are going to polls in the first phase on September 18. In Doda, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a massive election rally on September 14.

Shah was there to maintain momentum of the high-octane campaign of BJP in the rest of two districts i.e., Kishtwar and Ramban.

The Home Minister, following a trail-blazing day-long schedule of three election rallies at Kishtwar and Chaderkote (in Ramban district) besides Padder-Nagseni, said, “National Conference and Congress have promised to restore Article 370, if they come to power. Need to remind you, had Article 370 still been there, Gujjar and Paharis would not have got reservation. If it is brought back, it will revoke the reservations granted to Gujjars and Paharis. But there is no cause for concern for the people of J&K.

They need not to be worried. I’m watching developments, situation in Kashmir. Indications are clear that neither the government of Farooq Abdullah nor that of Rahul Baba (Gandhi) will be in place (after assembly elections). Rest assured, BJP will come to power in J&K after assembly elections and will form a government here.”

“When there is a BJP government in Delhi, how Farooq Abdullah can bring it (Article 370) back?” he asked.

In the same momentum, taking a dig at NC and PDP leaderships, the Home Minister reminded, “Farooq Abdullah used to claim that Article 370 could never be removed even if Narendra Modi became Prime Minister ten times. Mehbooba Mufti warned that rivers of blood would flow if Article 370 was removed. However, PM Modi removed Article 370 and established one flag, one head of the state and one constitution for the country.”

Shah stated that the beneficiaries of Article 370 were not the people of Jammu and Kashmir, but only three families i.e., the Abdullah family, the Gandhi family and the Mufti family.

“These families wanted to push J&K back into a regressive era while BJP’s mission is to make it (J&K), one of the most progressive states of India. Hence the contest in these elections is between BJP and these three families,” Union Home Minister said.

Reiterating that Article 370 was a part of history, he said, “There is no place for Article 370 in the Constitution of India anymore. Jammu and Kashmir can never have two constitutions, two heads of the state, and two flags. The only flag will be our Tricolour. The BJP upholds the ideals of Pandit Prem Nath Dogra and Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee. It is clear that Jammu and Kashmir was, is and always will be an integral part of India. When we opposed the idea of ‘Two constitutions, two heads of the state and two flags’ for India, the Congress party, under Nehru’s leadership, opposed the campaign.”

“While the opposition wants to turn Jammu and Kashmir into a terror-stricken state, Prime Minister Narendra Modi aims to make it a developed region,” he said.

Referring to NC’s manifesto, Shah stated NC-Congress alliance leaders were claiming to reconsider reservations if came to power.

“We will not let it happen ever. When it came to providing reservations to Paharis, efforts were made to provoke the Gujjar community by suggesting that their share of reservations would be reduced. However, BJP assured the Gujjars that while reservations would be given to the Paharis, their own reservations would remain unchanged. The central government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ensured that Gujjar reservations were not touched while providing reservations to the Paharis. Previously, children of parents living in remote hill areas were deprived of education. But those days are over, by the tribal reservations, these children will have opportunities to become Collectors, SP, DySPs and senior officers, serving in various parts of the country,” Union Home Minister said.

Accusing the opposition of trying to strip women of the rights they gained after the removal of Article 370, Shah said that BJP believed in not only securing the rights of women but also providing reservation rights to the Gujjars, Paharis, Dalits and OBC communities.

“Three types of reservations have been provided within the paramilitary forces—for SC, ST, and the Paharis. Additionally, those from border and hill regions, including Gujjars and Paharis, will receive a greater share in the reservation and BJP will focus on recruiting hill community members into the paramilitary forces,” he said.

He said that by “demolishing the fiefdom of the Congress, National Conference and PDP, the leaders of whom remained bothered about their own families, the Prime Minister freed J&K from corrupt governments of three families and established Panchayati Raj.

Elections were held at the block, gram panchayat and district levels, leading to the rise of new leadership from local youth. “These leaders will soon represent the region in the Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha,” he said.

“A candidate from the National Conference recently stated that they would ‘settle scores’ after October 4. Let me tell you, I’ll be there to hold such leaders accountable. The days are gone when these leaders could intimidate and threaten the Paharis or accuse Gujjars of being bribed. Now, no one can scare or insult them and there will be no room left for vengeance or hate-speeches.

While enlisting achievements made in Padder by the BJP government, he said that after the formation of the party's government in Jammu and Kashmir, the Machail Mata Yatra site would be developed extensively.

“The focus will be on boosting tourism in India. Hydropower projects will be developed and the first engineering colleges will be established in Paddar and Kishtwar. Additionally, 130 new towers will be set up to ensure connectivity between security forces and locals. PM Modi has proposed that regions with populations of 100 or fewer will be connected by roads, which will significantly benefit the Kishtwar region. Plans are also in place to give a GI tag to pear and river rafting and adventure tourism training schools will be established,” Shah promised.

“The Modi government's top priority is to resolve all issues related to the safety and security of the state and will address these promptly. Additionally, Kishtwar has immense potential for adventure tourism. PM Modi will bring the first airport to Kishtwar, the work of connecting every village by road has been done by the BJP,” he said, while spelling out resolutions of BJP mentioned in its manifesto.

Describing voting as a crucial step to bring about positive change, the Union Home Minister said that the Prime Minister was moving forward with the principle of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.’