Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday accused the National Conference (NC)-Congress alliance of attempting to destabilise Jammu and Kashmir by seeking the release of separatists and terrorist sympathisers.
Addressing a public rally in Jammu ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, Shah took a strong stance against what he described as efforts to reignite terrorism in the region.
“NC and Congress want to release stone pelters. They want terrorism to flourish in Rajouri and Poonch. We have put troublemakers in jail. They want cross LoC trade to be resumed. Who will benefit from it?” Shah said.
Shah alleged that the NC-Congress alliance, along with Mehbooba Mufti’s People’s Democratic Party (PDP), sought to push the region “into the fire of terrorism.”
“Three families have looted J&K. Terror will be back if NC and Congress come to power. Jammu has to decide their fate. If BJP comes to power, we won’t allow terror to raise its head,” he said, asserting that talks with Pakistan will not resume until peace is restored.
The BJP heavyweight also claimed the NC-Congress alliance aimed to deprive Jammu of its rights and reintroduce autonomy for the region, something he vowed would never happen.
“No power will dare to talk about autonomy in J&K now,” Shah said.
The Home Minister also took a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of misleading the people with promises of restoring statehood. “Rahul Gandhi says he will give statehood to J&K. Does he have the power to do so? I have said in parliament that statehood will be given back at an appropriate time after the elections,” he stated, adding, “Rahul Gandhi must stop befooling the people of J&K.”
Shah further accused the opposition of attempting to rename Shankaracharya Hill as Takht-e-Suleman, and of trying to strip the Gujjar, Bakerwal, and Pahari communities of their reservations, a move he promised to block.
Jammu and Kashmir will vote for its 90-member assembly in three phases. The first phase is set for September 18, with subsequent rounds on September 25 and October 1. Counting is scheduled for October
