Says “First Elections After Article 370 Abrogation A Historic Moment for J&K”
“No Autonomy For J&K, Only Indian Constitution, People Will Decide Their Destiny, Militancy Won’t Return, Peace & Security To Be Sustained”
“Statehood Pledge Of Rahul Gandhi, Farooq Abdullah Questionable”
“Maharaja Hari Singh’s Legacy: Bjp Has A Role In Honoring The Past”
“Cong-NC Alliance ‘Dangerous Agenda’, Threat to Reservation, Dev”
“Youth’s Role in Battling Militancy Exemplary, No Talks with Pakistan Until Peace in J&K, No Cross-LoC Trade”
Jammu, Srinagar: Targeting Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his promise to restore statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, Union Home Minister Amit Shah Saturday said that “only the Government of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi can restore statehood.”
Shah reminded the public that he had already assured Parliament in August 2019 that statehood would be restored at an appropriate time after the Assembly elections.
Kicking off the BJP’s campaign for the upcoming Assembly polls, Shah addressed a rally in Jammu, emphasizing that these elections would be “historic” as the first Assembly polls since the abrogation of Article 370, which stripped J&K of its special status.
Shah highlighted that, for the first time since Independence, voters in Jammu and Kashmir would cast their ballots not under two flags but under one—the Tricolour.
“For the first time, voting will take place not under two constitutions, but under the Constitution of India drafted by Babasaheb Ambedkar,” he remarked.
Shah ruled out any possibility of autonomy for J&K, stating, “No power can now talk of autonomy.” He questioned Rahul Gandhi’s and Farooq Abdullah’s promises to restore statehood, asking, “Rahul Baba takes the pledge that he will give back statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. I want to ask Rahul Gandhi and Farooq Abdullah, how will you give it back?”
Turning to the crowd, Shah asked, “Who can give it back?” to which the audience responded with chants of “Modi government.”
He further challenged the opposition, saying, “Why are you fooling the people of Jammu and Kashmir? Only the Government of India and Modi ji can give it (statehood). I had said so in Parliament that we will restore statehood at an appropriate time after the Assembly elections.”
Shah criticized Gandhi and Abdullah for demanding something the government had already promised, rhetorically asking, “Have you ever seen or heard of such a thing before?” He accused their parties of failing to protect Maharaja Hari Singh, claiming they had prevented his return to J&K.
“His ashes came, but not the Maharaja,” he noted, adding that it was the BJP that declared a public holiday on Maharaja Hari Singh’s birthday.
Playing the Jammu card, Shah declared, “Gone are the days when someone else decided which government would be formed in Jammu and Kashmir. Now, it will be decided by the people of Jammu.
He urged party workers to go door-to-door, informing communities like Gujjars, Bakerwals, Paharis, OBCs, and Dalits that Congress and NC sought to revoke their reservations.
He warned that the NC-Congress alliance would bring back militancy and halt development in Jammu and Kashmir, leading people “to go to Srinagar with a begging bowl.”
Shah asserted that with the abrogation of Article 370, “mothers and sisters in Jammu and Kashmir have received their rights,” while the NC-Congress combine sought to revoke these rights and release stone-pelters and militants from jail.
“Will you allow militancy to return to the peaceful areas of Jammu, Rajouri, Poonch, and Doda?” he asked.
Addressing the Kashmiri youth, Shah reminded them that it was the youth of the Valley who fought militancy while Farooq Abdullah and his family fled to England during the crisis.
“Many times, you have given power in their hands, but when militancy came, they left,” he said, adding that opposition leaders would abandon the state during unrest and return only when peace prevailed.
Shah also underscored that 40,000 people had lost their lives due to militancy in J&K, accusing rival party leaders of leaving for Delhi’s coffee bars whenever militancy erupted. He warned voters not to support NC-Congress, as their agenda would restore militancy and stall the region’s development.
Lastly, Shah ruled out any talks with Pakistan until peace was restored in Jammu and Kashmir. He also rejected the idea of cross-LoC trade, stating that its proceeds would be used to fund militancy.
