Will bury terror in J&K, nobody dare revive it, says Amit Shah
Union home minister says attempts are on to revive terrorism as the National Conference and Congress manifesto talks about releasing terrorists.
Appealing the voters to stay away from National Conference-Congress alliance and vote for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Union home minister Amit Shah on Monday promised to ‘bury terrorism deep into the earth that it won’t be able rear its head again.”
“This land of Mata Machail has given supreme sacrifices for the nation. I bow before ancestors of this sacred land. We all know how terrorism peaked here in 1990s. The sacrifices of Chanderkant Sharma and Parihar brothers are still fresh in our minds. I promise that we will bury terrorism so deep into the earth that it will never come back again,” said Shah at an election rally in Kishtwar district’s Padder Nagseni assembly constituency.
RSS worker Chanderkant Sharma and his body guard Rajinder were shot dead by terrorists on April 9, 2019, and J&K BJP’s secretary Anil Parihar and his brother Ajit Parihar were shot point blank by the terrorists on November 1, 2018.
BJP has fielded former minister Sunil Sharma from Padder Nagseni and Ajit Parihar’s daughter Shagun Parihar from Kishtwar assembly constituency.
“Now, attempts are being made (by anti-national elements) to bring back 90s like situation. Attempts are being made to spread terrorism. National Conference 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 on the soil of India,” he said.
Shah launched a scathing attack at National Conference chief Dr Farooq Abdullah asking him where was he when Kishtwar was bleeding with terror attacks.
“He should be asked this if he comes here. But I know where he was then. He was enjoying summer vacation in London,” Shah said sarcastically.
Shah cautioned the voters to stay away from the two parties that “nurtured and nourished” terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Congress- NC alliance has always nurtured terrorism in J&K. Whenever NC-Congress government formed here, they encouraged terrorism. I clearly remember the 1990s. This alliance between Gandhi and Abdullah families, which spread terrorism, want to get your votes again,” he said.
He said that the BJP government, it its resolve to wipe out terrorism, has initiated some measures.
“We have strengthened village defence guards (VDGs) and special police officers (SPOs). We have replaced their obsolete 303 rifles and they are being equipped with self loading rifles (SLRs). Besides, we are raising a security grid. Those (terrorists), who want to come, they may come but they will be wiped out in these hills by our forces and jawans,” he asserted.
‘Article 370 is history, will never come back’
Firing fresh salvos at the Congress and leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Shah said, “NC and Congress say that if they came to power, they will bring back Article 370. Let me tell them, PM Modi revoked Article 370 and it has become a history. It has no place in Indian Constitution,” he said.
“I go back from here with a promise that neither terrorism nor Article 370 will come back. Never ever J&K shall have two constitutions and two flags. There will be only one flag and that is our tricolour,” he added.
Shah also tried to strike an emotional chord with the Gujjars and Paharis. “They also say that if they came to power, they will reconsider reservation to Paharis and Gujjars. Firstly, the reservation would not have been possible, had Article 370 stayed here. Secondly, I am watching Kashmir situation. Let me tell you that neither Farooq Abdullah nor Rahul Baba is going to form the government,” he said.
Shah also invoked Maharaja Hari Singh and recalled how he was banished from his own state.
“These parties (NC and Congress) not only insulted Maharaja Hari but also did not allow him to return to his home. These parties who insulted Maharaja Hari Singh, responsible for the exodus of Pandits, denied rights to women and reservation to marginalised sections…will you bring them back,” he asked the gathering.
On September 7, Shah while releasing party manifesto, had called three dynastic families of Abdullahs, Muftis and Gandhis “an epitome of corruption” who harboured “a divisive agenda”.
Later, Shah addressed two more rallies in Kishtwar and Ramban’s Chanderkote before returning to Delhi.
National Conference, on August 19, had pledged to push for Article 370 and 35A, India-Pakistan dialogue on Kashmir, introduce laws to protect jobs and land, seek the release of political prisoners and review the cases of employees terminated over the past five years.
A total of 24 assembly constituencies, 16 in south Kashmir and eight in three districts of Kishtwar, Doda and Ramban will go to polls on September 18 in first phase.