Jammu, September 21: Indian Minister for Home Affairs and Cooperation Amit Shah on Friday said that the Nationalist Congress (NC) and the Congress party promoted terrorism, which led to the death of 40,000 people in Jammu and Kashmir and 3000 days of shutdown in Kashmir.
He held rallies in Mendhar, Surankote, Thanamandi, Rajouri and Akhnoor during his visit to Jammu region.
Addressing a rally in Mendhar, Shah said that speaking to the Gujjars, Bakerwals and Paharis was a very lucky moment for him.
“Since 1947, the Gujaratis, Bakerwals and Paharis of Jammu and Kashmir have contributed immensely to the security of the country. In all the battles with Pakistan after 1947, they saved the country like soldiers. When terror struck Jammu and Kashmir in the 90s, these people bravely faced the bullets of terrorists,” he said. “Today I want to tell you that the entire country is proud of you and the entire country salutes you.”
Talking about the BJP candidate in Mendhar, the Home Minister said Murtaza Khan never approached him for his personal needs but for the needs of the people of his constituency.
“He has been trying to resolve the problems faced by the Pahari, Bakerwal and Gujjar communities in the region. The best way to connect with Narendra Modi and the BJP is through Murtaza Khan,” he said.
Shah said the election was about ending the rule of three major dynastic parties – the Abdullahs, the Muftis and the Nehru-Gandhis.
“These three families have hindered democracy here. If Narendra Modi had not won the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, would the panchayat, block and district elections have been held? Today, we have elected members of the block and panchayats around us. They should have been busy maintaining the empire of these three families. PM Modi, the BJP and people like Murtaza Khan have been working hard to bring democracy in Kashmir and as a result, today 30,000 youths are enjoying the fruits of democracy as elected members,” he said.
The Home Minister said that now all three dynastic parties have said they will reconsider their decision to introduce democracy in Jammu and Kashmir.
“They had been spreading terror in Jammu and Kashmir from 1990s till 2014. As a result, 40,000 youths were killed. Many picked up stones or guns and ruined their lives. But the three families did nothing to stop terrorism. But the Narendra Modi government worked hard to eliminate terrorism and provided laptops to the youth. Prime Minister Modi has eradicated terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir and replaced stones in the hands of the youth with laptops,” he said.
Shah said: “Omar Abdullah came and scared people saying terrorism will come again in Jammu and Kashmir. But I want to tell him that Modi is the prime minister and I am the home minister and we will never let terrorism come again. When terrorism was tearing Kashmir apart, where was Farooq Abdullah? He was enjoying his vacation in London. Do you want such a government?”
He said the BJP government had made every effort to improve facilities for the people, such as providing health insurance up to Rs 5 lakh.
“They have been in power for so long, have they given such benefits? Now PM Modi has increased the health insurance to Rs 10 lakh for families with elderly people. Did they provide 5 kg of food grains for free? Did they provide drinking water? Where did all the money go? All the money was embezzled by three families. PM Modi has also decided to connect villages with a population of just 50 people with cement roads. The biggest beneficiaries of the scheme will be people living in the mountainous areas of Jammu and Kashmir. PM Modi has provided reservations for Gurjjars, Bakerwals and Paharis.
When I introduced the bill, Farooq Abdullah opposed it. A former judge also opposed it and started agitating the Gujaratis. But we said we would not reduce the seats reserved for Gujaratis and give them to Paharis. The Narendra Modi government kept its word. But because of their opposition, we could not pass the bill for six months. Earlier, our Gujaratis, Bakerwals and Paharis were looking for small jobs. Now, because of their reserved seats, their children can become IAS and IPS and serve the country.
They will also get seats in medical and engineering colleges and Indian Institutes of Management. These rights given to you by our Constitution were blocked by Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti. Now they want to reconsider the decision. No power in the world can deprive all of you of reserved seats,” the Home Minister said. “During this winter season, we will open a winter camp collector’s office. Drinking water, hospitals and schools will be at your fingertips. They said they will do away with reserved seats, but we said we will reserve seats even for Gujaratis, Bakerwals and Paharis so that they can become chief secretaries and DGPs.”
He said a leader of the National Congress (NC) said that the NC flag was red because there was terrorism.
“Tell me what benefit can terrorism bring to anyone. For what purpose are they giving guns to youngsters? We are even ready to give guns to our youngsters but at the same time give them jobs as soldiers. We will set up special recruitment camps for Pahari youths in Jammu and Kashmir to get them jobs in the army,” Shah said.
He said the Modi government had buried terrorism so deep that even the next three generations of the NC and the Congress party would not be able to revive it.
“We have built a hospital and an outpatient building in Mendal. We have provided surgical facilities in the local sub-divisional hospital. We have built a conference hall in Dakbanglo. We have installed solar street lights in most areas of Mendal. We will also build more bunkers to protect people from shelling. In the past, there was massive shelling here because those who ruled here were afraid of Pakistan.
But now Pakistan is afraid of Narendra Modi. They no longer dare to fire and shell because they know they will get a befitting response,” the home minister said. “We promised to give Rs 18,000 per year to the eldest woman in every family. Prime Minister Modi gave Rs 6,000 to every farmer. Form a BJP government here and we will raise that figure to Rs 10,000. We will reduce electricity charges for agriculture and provide up to 500 units of free electricity. We will build a metro line in Jammu, construct an international airport, develop the Tawi riverfront and create tourist cities like Pahalgam in Poonch and Rajouri.
They have deprived this region of its freedom for 70 years. Today I want to tell you that if tourists from all over the world do not throng the streets of Mendhar, Poonch and Rajouri, then call me a liar,” he said. “We will provide 20% reserved seats for Agniveers, 5 lakh government jobs and provide laptops and tablets to high school students in remote areas. We will build Ayush herbal gardens in Kishtwar, IT hubs in Jammu and pharmaceutical hubs in Udhampur. The poor will get 5 marla land free of charge and reserved seats for SC and ST will be extended for promotions.”
In Surankot, he said if the BJP government is formed then a coaching centre for IAS exam will be set up in Poonch and Rajouri.
“The first phase of elections is over and going by the numbers, Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti will not form the government. They left our youth here, Majboor, but we want to make them Mazboot. We want to give them Adhikar and not Andhkar. I want to tell NC and Congress that they are responsible for 40,000 deaths as they promoted terrorism; they are responsible for the 3,000-day strike in Kashmir. Never forget that Prime Minister Modi has a big heart. So, Gujaratis and Bakerwals need not worry. Their reservations will remain intact,” Shah said.
He said Sushil Shinde, India’s former home minister, said he used to be scared to go to Lal Chowk.
“I appeal to him to come to Lal Chowk with his family. No one can cause harm. That was during the Congress government and now it is the Modi government. In 2023 alone, 20 million tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir. But if you add up the number of tourists during Farooq Abdullah’s regime, it will not be 20 million,” the Home Minister said.
“We are making life easier for the hill people by extending the Jammu to Poonch National Highway 144-A. The road in Surankote is being strengthened. The Surankote to Bafliaz highway will connect you all. We have built a college gymnasium here. We will form a Lake Development Authority to develop the Ranjeet Sagar Dam. We will reimburse coaching fees up to Rs 10,000 for two years,” he said.
In Thanamandi, Shah said Rahul Gandhi’s offer of talks with Pakistan despite saying ‘Mohabbat Ki Dukaan’ was an “act of terrorism”.
“As long as Pakistan does not stop terrorism, there can be no negotiations,” he said.
In Rajouri, the Home Minister said it was a historic election and would be held after giving reserved seats to Gujaratis, Bakerwals, Paharis and Dalits.
He said the Congress, NC and PDP were responsible for the backwardness of Poonch and Rajouri districts.
“Just recently, Pakistan’s defence minister said that they have an agenda with the Congress and the NCP to restore Article 370. Rahul Gandhi should be ashamed of this, but he is here asking for votes. I want to tell the Abdullah family that no matter what they do, Article 370 will never come back. Just like Article 370, terrorism has also been buried and no matter how hard they try, it will never come back.
NC candidates are threatening people, saying they will face consequences. But I ask people not to be afraid because those who threaten will face consequences,” Shah said. “Let Omar Abdullah listen to me, the Modi government will not allow terrorism to enter these beautiful hills of Jammu and Kashmir. Farooq Abdullah should be held accountable for spreading terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir for 35 years and giving weapons to children here.”
He said Pakistan, the Congress and the National Committee had the same agenda.
“Rahul Gandhi recently said in the US that once their party comes to power, they will do away with reservations. But I want to tell him that his party has always been against reservations. As long as the BJP is there, no one can do away with reservations,” the Home Minister said.
He said people of Poonch and Rajouri districts need not take their children to Jammu to watch trains as Poonch and Rajouri districts will also have railway stations.
At Aknoor, Shah said the Nepali Congress had announced that they would legalise a separate flag for Jammu and Kashmir, restore Article 370, start talks with Pakistan, start trade on the Line of Control, release people accused of terror activities and stone pelting, and rename Shankaracharya as Takht-e-Sulaiman. Rahul Gandhi must clarify whether he agrees with the Nepali Congress’ agenda.
“Even if he doesn’t clarify, I will make it clear that Article 370 will never come back and there will be only one flag here and that is our beloved Tiranga,” he said.
The Home Minister alleged that the Congress party had even fielded as candidates those who had been subjected to CBI raids and were accused of leaking question papers.
“People have to decide who to vote for,” he said.
“We have established the All India Institute of Medical Sciences here, established a government medical college, cancer treatment institute, eight new colleges, constructed 24 new buildings and recognised 59 new colleges. We have sanctioned hydropower projects worth Rs 59,000 crore. We will repair 100 temples damaged due to terrorism every year,” Shah said.
“The Congress never gave due respect to BR Ambedkar and never awarded him the Bharatiya Janata Dal. But the BJP has developed five places associated with Ambedkar like Panchmahateerth,” he said.
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