Launching a frontal attack on the pre-poll alliance partners, Congress and the National Conference on the last day of campaigning in Kishtwar, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday appealed to the voters in the region to punish these parties by voting in favour of the BJP as they (Congress-National Conference) have always “nurtured and nourished” terrorism.
Shah vowed to “bury terrorism deep into the earth so that it would not be able to rear its head again.”
Addressing three back-to-back election rallies in the region Shah said there is a clear fight between the Congress-National Conference alliance and the BJP — one wanting to bring back Article 370, and the other committed to stopping it.
Shah reiterated the Constitution's Article 370, which gave special status to J and K, is history and will never come back.
The Home Minister also paid tributes to all those who have been killed in terror-related incidents, and specially referred to the deaths of BJP leaders Anil Parihar, Ajit Parihar and RSS leader Chanderkant Sharma.
BJP has fielded former Minister Sunil Sharma from Padder-Nagseni and Shagun Parihar, daughter of Ajit Parihar, from Kishtwar assembly constituency.
Reminding the voters about the promises made by the alliance partners in their election speeches and party manifestos, the Union Home Minister emphasised, “NC and Congress say that if they come to power, they will bring back Article 370. Modi revoked Article 370 and it has become history. It has no place in the Indian Constitution,” he added. Shah said they will also not allow the NC-Congress to snatch reservations of Gujjars and Paharis.
There will be only one constitution, one Prime Minister and one flag that is our beloved tricolour.”
Campaigning for the BJP candidates, Shah said attempts were being made to bring back the 1990s-like situation and spread terrorism. “NC and Congress have made promises that their Government will release terrorists. But this is Narendra Modi's Government and none has the guts to spread terrorism.”Shah also targeted NC chief Farooq Abdullah and asked him where he was when Kishtwar was bleeding from terror attacks. “He should be asked if he comes here. But I know where he was. He was enjoying summer vacation in London,” Shah said.
He said the BJP Government has resolved to wipe out terrorism and initiated some measures. “We have strengthened village defence guards and special police officers. We have replaced their obsolete rifles and they are being equipped with self-loading rifles...we are raising a security grid. Terrorists may come but they will be wiped out.”
He claimed that NC and Congress had said if they came to power, they would reconsider reservation to Paharis and Gujjars. “Firstly, the reservation would not have been possible, had Article 370 stayed here. Secondly, I am watching the Kashmir situation. Let me tell you that neither Farooq Abdullah nor Rahul Gandhi is going to form the Government,” he said. Shah referred to Maharaja Hari Singh, Jammu and Kashmir's last king, and said he was banished from his State. “These parties (NC and Congress) not only insulted Maharaja Hari but also did not allow him to return home. His ashes came back. These parties, who insulted Maharaja Hari Singh, are responsible for the exodus of Pandits, denied rights to women and reservation to marginalised sections…will you bring them back?” he asked.
