Jammu: Union Minister of Home & Cooperation and senior BJP leader, Amit Shah, on Sunday criticized the Congress and the National Conference (NC) for their anti-development and pro-terrorist stance, underscoring the damage caused by their politics.
Addressing a public meeting in Naushera belt in support of party candidate Ravinder Raina for phase-2 Assembly polls, he assured that the Bharatiya Janata Party will safeguard the reservations and rights granted to the people.
Regardless of what Rahul Gandhi and Omar Abdullah attempt, Shah stressed that the reservations will remain.
Farooq Abdullah talks about restoring Article 370, but even the next three generations of his family will not be able to bring it back, he noted and accused the Gandhi and Abdullah families of trying to end reservations and bring back terrorism.
“They speak of terrorism from their so-called ‘Mohabbat Ki Dukaan’. But after the election results, they won’t succeed in bringing back terrorism as the people of Jammu & Kashmir will shut down the false ‘Mohabbat Ki Dukaan’,” he asserted.
For 30 years, terrorism gripped J&K, with 3,000 days of curfew and 40,000 lives lost. During this time, where was Farooq Abdullah? He was vacationing in London while Kashmir was burning, he charged.
After Narendra Modi came to power, terrorists were eliminated one by one, he said and informed that the BJP not only has a future development agenda but has also proven its work in the last 10 years.
He contrasted this by highlighting the significant achievements of the Modi government in transforming Jammu and Kashmir.
Shah commenced his address by paying respects to Mangla Mata and honouring the memory of Guru Nanak Dev on his death anniversary.
He praised Ravinder Raina for his significant contributions, stating that under his leadership, the BJP has made great strides in Jammu and Kashmir.
Both Hindu and Muslim Pahadis received reservation due to Raina’s crucial role, he said while holdingthe Congress, NC and PDP of depriving the Pahadis of their rightful reservation for 70 years.
He said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has granted reservation despite opposition from Congress and NC.
“When the Pahadis were granted this right, Farooq Abdullah attempted to instigate Gujjars by falsely claiming their reservation would be taken away,” said Shah and recalled that he had assured, during a rally in Rajouri, that not even one per cent reservation of the Gujjars and Bakarwals would be touched, and the Pahadis would get their share of reservation and the BJP stood by this promise.
The Union Home Minister stated that while the public is pleased with the current reservation, it merely serves as an entry point. BJP is committed to going further, pledging promotion-based reservations for the Pahadi community after the elections, he said.
This commitment ensures not only positions like collector and DSP but aims for even higher roles such as Chief Secretary and DGP, underscoring the BJP government’s dedication to creating greater opportunities for the Pahadis.
Shah further stated that the Congress and the NC have claimed that they will reconsider the reservation given to Gujjar, Bakarwal, Pahadi, Valmiki, Dalit and OBC communities.
He recalled how Rahul Gandhi, while in America, remarked that these communities have already progressed and hence they no longer need reservations.
The Union Home Minister mentioned that Raina conveyed that bunkers have been built in Kashmir, which although is a significant step, there will be no need for bunkers, as no one can dare to fire a bullet. And if a bullet is fired, then it will be answered significantly with a befitting response.
Today, the Indian tricolour proudly flies in Jammu & Kashmir, while the NC speaks of bringing back Sheikh Abdullah’s flag, he said in a jibe.
“No matter how much effort Farooq Abdullah puts in, only the tricoloir will fly in Kashmir now,” he asserted.
Shah highlighted that Rahul Gandhi and Farooq Abdullah talk about engaging in dialogue with Pakistan, but until terrorism is completely wiped out, there will be no talks with Pakistan.
The Congress and the NC want to restart trade across the LoC and release terrorists from prisons, he alleged while asserting that no terrorist or stone pelter will be released.
Speaking further, Shah said that Farooq Abdullah wants to rename Shankaracharya Parvat and Hari Parvat as ‘Takh-e-Suleman’ and ‘Koh-e-Maran’, respectively, but he does not have the power to do so, he pointed.
The Union Home Minister emphasized that the first phase of elections in Jammu and Kashmir has ended and the NC-Congress alliance is not going to form the government, they have been completely wiped out, he predicted.
“Even in the Pahadi region, the NC is losing ground. On September 25, the people of Naushera must decide whether they want to elect a capable leader or an opposition candidate who has a habit of frequently switching parties. They need to decide whether they want a representative who can directly contact ‘Delhi Darbar’ to address the public’s issues or someone who drifts directionless,” he said.
He stated that Raina’s voice is heard strongly both in Srinagar and Delhi, ensuring that Naushera’s concerns are addressed.
Shah urged the people to ensure Raina’s victory, promising that the entire Naushera region will be developed.
“There is a demand for a district collector in Naushera and if Raina wins by a margin of over 20,000 votes, the demand will be fulfilled,” he said.
The Union Home Minister mentioned that it is only under PM Modi’s leadership that people currently have a Rs five lakh golden card, which will soon be increased to Rs 10 lakh.
The poor are receiving five kg of food grains, and farmers get Rs 6,000, which will rise to Rs 10,000, he said.
The BJP has worked to ensure every household has access to water, electricity, security, roads, bridges and new educational facilities, he pointed.
In Jammu, Rs 25,200 crore has been invested in a 3,000 MW hydro-electric project, he informed and said Jammu now has AIIMS, IIM, NIFT, IIT, Unani hospital, eight new colleges, and 24 new colleges.
The world’s highest railway bridge is on the Chenab River, the longest transportation tunnel is in Pir Panjal and Jammu ranks third in the country for rural roads, he informed.
Shah announced that PM Modi has decided to connect even small populations of 50 people in the hilly regions with permanent roads, a development that will greatly benefit the Naushera area.
The opposition, particularly Farooq Abdullah, who claims to have fought against terrorism should wait as after the elections, the BJP will release a white paper on terrorism that will fully expose the Abdullah, Congress, and Mufti families, he said.
Terrorism was introduced to Jammu & Kashmir during the tenure of the Congress and the NC rule, he recalled.
Former Union Home Minister and Congress leader Sushil Kumar Shinde has admitted to fearing to visit the Lal Chowk, he said and emphasized that under the Modi government, anyone can walk there without fear, as security has greatly improved.
The Union Home Minister, while highlighting Modi’s transformative impact in Jammu and Kashmir, said that after 30 years, cinema halls now operate at night in the Valley, and after 35 years, Tazia processions, Janmashtami celebrations and Ganesh Chaturthi are being held again.
Over two crore pilgrims now visit Jammu and Kashmir annually, he informed.
The BJP also promised to develop two new tourist towns on the Pahadi side in Jammu, similar to Pahalgam.
Significant infrastructure projects were also mentioned, such as construction of National Highway 144A, the establishment of a Mother and Child Care Hospital at Lamberi, addition of 100 beds at Naushera’s Mandal Hospital, a government degree college built by Raina and creation of sports facilities for youth like stadium. Lamberi also saw the establishment of an Agricultural Training Centre.
The BJP has secured the Pahadi community’s status and protected the rights of Gujjars while granting reservation to Jats and providing 40,000 jobs in Jammu and Kashmir, Shah said.
“If the people elect Raina, then the senior-most woman in any household would receive a yearly cheque of Rs 18,000 from PM Modi under the ‘Maa Samman Yojana’,” he said.
Shah announced several major promises, including reducing gas cylinder prices to Rs 500, offering two free cylinders to women during Raksha Bandhan and Diwali, increasing farmers’ assistance from Rs 6,000 to Rs 10,000 and reducing the electricity bill for agriculture by 50 per cent, an international airport at Jammu, a Metro system and restoration of 100 damaged temples annually.
Furthermore, water sports will be introduced at Ranjit Sagar Dam and new schemes will be created for Kashmiri displaced persons.
Under the Pandit Prem Nath Dogra Rozgar Yojna, five lakh government jobs will be provided, while under the Pragati Shiksha Yojna, college students will receive Rs 3,000 and higher secondary students will get laptops and tablets, he said.
Doda will become a tourism hub, similarly, there will be an IT hub in Jammu and a pharmaceutical hub in Udhampur, he continued and promised that the BJP will establish a regional development board for Pahadi areas in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Union Home Minister urged voters to support BJP and elect Raina with a strong majority for the region’s development, peace, security and to deliver a strong message to terrorism and Pakistan.
During J&K BJP president and Naushera candidate Raina’s election rally, former MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, Narur MLA Ranvir Singh Naushera District president Ms Nina Sharma, among other leaders were present.
UNI
