Poonch, Sept 21: Union Home Minister Amit Shah attacked the Congress and the National Conference on Saturday, claiming that thousands of people were slain by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir during their tenure.“For thirty-five years, the National Conference and Congress governed this region; during that time, there was an upsurge in terrorism, forty thousand deaths, three millennia of closures, and eight years of darkness. “You (the Congress and National Conference) are accountable for this,” Shah declared during an election rally in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, Surankot. “National Conference President Farooq Abdullah came here and instilled dread in the locals that the Jammu region, including Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, and the hills, would become a hotbed of terrorism. However, no one is brave enough to introduce terrorists into the hills. He continued, “I promise that we will put an end to terrorism. Along with LoP in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, the Union Minister also took aim at him for his remarks disparaging Sikhs. “After talking about ‘Mohabbat Ki Dukan,’ Rahul Gandhi gives orders for terrorism and wants to hold discussions with Pakistan. Talks with Pakistan will not resume until that country puts an end to terrorism. “I will only have conversations with my Pahari children,” he declared.
In addition, Amit Shah restated the campaign promises made by the BJP for the area: “The oldest woman in the house will receive Rs 18,000 per year here (Jammu Kashmir).” In addition to receiving two free cylinders, Ujjwala beneficiaries would also see a price increase to Rs. 500 for each cylinder. The yearly grant under PM-Kisan, which was Rs 6,000, will now be Rs 10,000. Speaking to a crowd earlier in the day at Mendhar, J&K, Mendhar Shah declared, “Since 1947, the soldiers from this land, Jammu and Kashmir, have defended India in every war fought against Pakistan.” Thanks to Farooq Abdullah, terrorism infiltrated the country in the 1990s, and my brothers Pahadi, Gurjar, and Bakarwal valiantly faced gunfire at the borders.
Targeting the Congress and National Conference and PDP’s manifesto, which promises to restore Article 370 and bring back statehood in Jammu-Kashmir, Shah said, “This election is going to end the rule of three families in Jammu and Kashmir: the Abdullah family, the Mufti family, and the Nehru-Gandhi family. These three families had stopped democracy here. If Modi ji’s government had not come in 2014, then panchayat, block and district elections would not have taken place.”
“Abdullah, Mufti and Nehru-Gandhi family have spread terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir from the 90s till now. Today, the BJP government led by Shri Narendra Modi has ended terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir. The youth here have been given laptops instead of stones,” he added.
Shah also highlighted the increased political participation of local youth, and said “Due to Modi Ji’s tireless efforts, today, around 30,000 Kashmiri youths are contesting elections at various levels, exercising their democratic rights.”
Reflecting on the security situation, he remarked, “Do you remember how much firing used to take place in Jammu and Kashmir in the 90s? Does firing still take place now? Earlier, there used to be firing here because the masters here were afraid of Pakistan; now Pakistan is afraid of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. They do not have the courage to open fire, and if they do so, the bullets will be answered with shells.”
The Congress and the National Conference are fighting the polls in alliance. The PDP, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and People’s Conference, to name a few, are other parties in the fray for 90 Assembly seats.
This is the first election in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370. Leaders have held hectic campaigns to boost the prospects of their party candidates. Voting for the second and third phases in J-K will be held on September 25 and October 1, respectively. Votes will be counted on October 8.
