India
‘No trade, talks with Pakistan until…’: Amit Shah accuses NC, Congress of ‘fuelling’ terrorism – Times of India
NEW DELHI: Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said there will be no trade or talks with Pakistan until complete normalcy is restored in Jammu and Kashmir.
Shah launched a scathing attack on opposition parties during an election rally in Ramban in J&K National conference (NC) and the Congress, accusing them of promoting terrorism in the region. Shah reiterated that there would be no dialogue or trade with Pakistan until terrorism is completely eradicated from Jammu and Kashmir.
Criticising the opposition, Shah said: “They are saying that they will hold talks with Pakistan. I want to make it clear that we will not hold talks with Pakistan until we completely eradicate terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir. They want to start LoC trade… the same LoC trade from which terrorism was born here. I want to tell Omar Abdullah that we will not hold any trade with Pakistan until terrorism is eradicated from its roots here.”
Shah’s comments come as the Union Territory prepares for its first Assembly elections in a decade. Shah drew clear battle lines and said the elections are between the BJP and the Congress-National Conference alliance.
Shah said, “The elections are between two powers. On one hand, they pushed Jammu and Kashmir into the fire of terrorism for their own political gains; more than 40,000 people were martyred here. I want to ask Farooq (Abdullah) Sahab and Rahul Gandhi whether they will take responsibility for 35 years of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. They will not take responsibility.”
Accusing the Opposition of promoting terrorism, Shah said, “The Congress-National Conference alliance has always fuelled terrorism… In the 1990s, when Farooq Abdullah was CM, you were elected after an agreement with Rajeev Gandhi. When the Kashmir Valley was soaked in blood because of terrorism, where were you?… You went to London for a summer vacation. Nehru, Gandhi and the Abdullah family spread terrorism here and now they want your blessings again. They boycotted Kashmiri Pandits, spread terrorism and postponed reservation. Do you want that NC-Congress again?”
He further alleged that as long as the BJP remains in power, no one can reinstate Article 370.
“This election is between those who abolished Article 370 and those who brought Article 370. I want to ask Gurjars and Pahadis, what did Article 370 give you in the last 70 years? Because of Article 370, Gurjars, Pahadis, Dalits and women of Jammu and Kashmir did not get the benefits of reservation. PM Modi gave reservation to Paharis, OBCs and Dalits without touching the reservation of Gurjars. They ruled Jammu and Kashmir for 70 years, but why were panchayat elections never held? PM Modi held gram panchayat, block panchayat and district panchayat elections in just 10 years,” Shah said.
Highlighting the government’s efforts, Shah added, “PM Modi strengthened democracy in Jammu and Kashmir. I want to ask Farooq Abdullah: Your three generations have ruled, but did the people of Jammu and Kashmir ever get free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh? Modi Ji gave free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh to everyone from the valley to the plains. Abdullah’s family ruled Jammu and Kashmir for three generations. Did anyone get 5 kg of free rice during their rule? PM Modi gave rice to every house.”
Shah also questioned the Abdullah family’s efforts to improve infrastructure, particularly under the “Har Ghar me Nal se Jal” (Water for Every Home) programme.
“If BJP government is formed, we will work for the development of Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch region. They (Abdullah-Gandhi) say that if they come to power, all those jailed on terrorism charges will be released. Once Abdullah, Gandhi and Muftis are defeated, we will completely eradicate terrorism from the valley. Congress has jailed Sheikh Abdullah for anti-national activities. If Rahul Gandhi has courage, he should present the white paper submitted to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly. The same Congress which blamed Abdullah family for terrorism and kept Omar Abdullah’s father in jail is now forming an alliance to win the elections,” Shah said. Addressing a rally in Kishtwar on Sunday, Shah said, “The coming elections are between two forces. On one side, you have the BJP, which is following the ideals of Pandit Prem Nath Dogra and Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee. We are clear that J&K was and will always be an integral part of India. When we fought against the idea of ’2 Vidhaan and 2 Pradhan’ for the country, the Congress party, led by Nehru, opposed our campaign. Farooq Ji used to say that even if Modi Ji becomes Prime Minister 10 times, he cannot scrap Article 370. Mehbooba Ji used to say that if Article 370 is scrapped, there will be bloodshed. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi scrapped Article 370 and brought one flag, one leader and one constitution in the country.”
The Congress and the National Conference have formed an alliance for the upcoming elections. These will be held in three phases, starting on September 18. The results will be announced on October 8.
Shah launched a scathing attack on opposition parties during an election rally in Ramban in J&K National conference (NC) and the Congress, accusing them of promoting terrorism in the region. Shah reiterated that there would be no dialogue or trade with Pakistan until terrorism is completely eradicated from Jammu and Kashmir.
Criticising the opposition, Shah said: “They are saying that they will hold talks with Pakistan. I want to make it clear that we will not hold talks with Pakistan until we completely eradicate terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir. They want to start LoC trade… the same LoC trade from which terrorism was born here. I want to tell Omar Abdullah that we will not hold any trade with Pakistan until terrorism is eradicated from its roots here.”
Shah’s comments come as the Union Territory prepares for its first Assembly elections in a decade. Shah drew clear battle lines and said the elections are between the BJP and the Congress-National Conference alliance.
Shah said, “The elections are between two powers. On one hand, they pushed Jammu and Kashmir into the fire of terrorism for their own political gains; more than 40,000 people were martyred here. I want to ask Farooq (Abdullah) Sahab and Rahul Gandhi whether they will take responsibility for 35 years of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. They will not take responsibility.”
Accusing the Opposition of promoting terrorism, Shah said, “The Congress-National Conference alliance has always fuelled terrorism… In the 1990s, when Farooq Abdullah was CM, you were elected after an agreement with Rajeev Gandhi. When the Kashmir Valley was soaked in blood because of terrorism, where were you?… You went to London for a summer vacation. Nehru, Gandhi and the Abdullah family spread terrorism here and now they want your blessings again. They boycotted Kashmiri Pandits, spread terrorism and postponed reservation. Do you want that NC-Congress again?”
He further alleged that as long as the BJP remains in power, no one can reinstate Article 370.
“This election is between those who abolished Article 370 and those who brought Article 370. I want to ask Gurjars and Pahadis, what did Article 370 give you in the last 70 years? Because of Article 370, Gurjars, Pahadis, Dalits and women of Jammu and Kashmir did not get the benefits of reservation. PM Modi gave reservation to Paharis, OBCs and Dalits without touching the reservation of Gurjars. They ruled Jammu and Kashmir for 70 years, but why were panchayat elections never held? PM Modi held gram panchayat, block panchayat and district panchayat elections in just 10 years,” Shah said.
Highlighting the government’s efforts, Shah added, “PM Modi strengthened democracy in Jammu and Kashmir. I want to ask Farooq Abdullah: Your three generations have ruled, but did the people of Jammu and Kashmir ever get free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh? Modi Ji gave free treatment up to Rs 5 lakh to everyone from the valley to the plains. Abdullah’s family ruled Jammu and Kashmir for three generations. Did anyone get 5 kg of free rice during their rule? PM Modi gave rice to every house.”
Shah also questioned the Abdullah family’s efforts to improve infrastructure, particularly under the “Har Ghar me Nal se Jal” (Water for Every Home) programme.
“If BJP government is formed, we will work for the development of Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch region. They (Abdullah-Gandhi) say that if they come to power, all those jailed on terrorism charges will be released. Once Abdullah, Gandhi and Muftis are defeated, we will completely eradicate terrorism from the valley. Congress has jailed Sheikh Abdullah for anti-national activities. If Rahul Gandhi has courage, he should present the white paper submitted to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly. The same Congress which blamed Abdullah family for terrorism and kept Omar Abdullah’s father in jail is now forming an alliance to win the elections,” Shah said. Addressing a rally in Kishtwar on Sunday, Shah said, “The coming elections are between two forces. On one side, you have the BJP, which is following the ideals of Pandit Prem Nath Dogra and Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee. We are clear that J&K was and will always be an integral part of India. When we fought against the idea of ’2 Vidhaan and 2 Pradhan’ for the country, the Congress party, led by Nehru, opposed our campaign. Farooq Ji used to say that even if Modi Ji becomes Prime Minister 10 times, he cannot scrap Article 370. Mehbooba Ji used to say that if Article 370 is scrapped, there will be bloodshed. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi scrapped Article 370 and brought one flag, one leader and one constitution in the country.”
The Congress and the National Conference have formed an alliance for the upcoming elections. These will be held in three phases, starting on September 18. The results will be announced on October 8.
