SRINAGAR: Union Home Minister Amit Shah Sunday declared that the BJP will definitely form the Government in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and development works done there will be the basis of party’s campaign in the three-phase Assembly elections scheduled to be held on September 18 and 25 and October 1.
“Jammu and Kashmir is now marching on the path of peace and development. During last 10 years, there has been decline in terror incidents by 69 percent, civilian killings have gone down by 80 percent and security forces’ killings have reduced by 44 percent. The development works will be the basis of our campaign in the elections and we will surely form the Government in Jammu and Kashmir,” Shah said in an interview to a Hindi newspaper.
Asserting that after abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution of India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has opened all doors of development in Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Home Minister said the UT has been taken away from the incidents of terrorism and stoning towards peace and hopes.
He said Jammu is the only City which has IIT, IIM and AIIMS.
“With the efforts of our Government, Jammu and Kashmir has got many educational and health institutions and there has been a wave of development,” he added.
Shah said following abrogation of Article 370, backwards, Dalits, Paharis, Gujjars, Bakerwals and local people got their rights and the people saw an era of development and peace.
“Youth are getting jobs, there have been many new opportunities of education. Elections to Lok Sabha saw record voting. Today, Jammu and Kashmir has got freedom from three families and democracy has been strengthened at the grassroots level,” the Home Minister said.
Taking National Conference and Congress to task for their alliance, Shah asked the Congress whether the party is satisfied with the promises made by the NC in their election manifesto.
“Whether Congress supports separate flag in Jammu and Kashmir once again? Whether Congress wants to bring back Article 370 and 35A? Did Congress favours resumption of LoC trade with Pakistan to support terrorists and its ecosystem? Whether the Congress is with the NC manifesto that calls for ending reservation to Dalits, Gujjars, Bakerwals and Paharis? Does Congress support talks with Pakistan instead of youth of Jammu and Kashmir?” he asked.
Shah said the Congress should give reply to these questions and clear its position among the people.
The Home Minister said Jammu and Kashmir has been marching towards peace and prosperity due to which two crore tourists visited the Union Territory during the year 2023. Cinema halls have been reopened after 33 years, he added.
Maintaining that there were three hotspots of internal security challenges in India including Northeast, Left wing extremism and Jammu and Kashmir, Shah said when Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister in 2014, he undertook balanced works in all three regions and now because of the Government efforts, total incidents of violence have come down by 60 percent and total killings have gone down by 71 percent.
