September 7th 2024.
On Saturday, Home Minister Amit Shah addressed a rally in Jammu, dismissing the opposition's attempts to revive the autonomy plank during the upcoming assembly polls. He called out the NC-Congress alliance for making false promises of statehood, stating that only the central government has the power to restore the status.
Shah assured the people that Jammu and Kashmir's statehood will be restored after the assembly elections, which will be the first under the national flag and Constitution since the abrogation of Article 370 by the Narendra Modi government. He also urged the people to choose a government that works for them, so they do not have to go to Srinagar with a "begging bowl."
Addressing the BJP workers' rally at Ploura in the Jammu North assembly segment, Shah emphasized that it is the people of Jammu who will decide the formation of the government, not the NC-Congress alliance. He accused the opposition of trying to revive the old system, which would only lead to terrorism and corruption in the region.
The NC and Congress, on the other hand, claimed that the BJP was trying to create confusion and fear among the electorate as they were in a state of panic since the two parties announced a seat-sharing arrangement. They also asserted that the 10-year BJP rule in the country has been a disappointment.
Shah, who was on a two-day visit to Jammu to boost the BJP's election campaign, released the party's manifesto on the first day of his visit. He also chaired meetings with senior leaders to discuss the campaign strategy. In his speech at the rally, Shah highlighted the historic significance of the upcoming elections, as they will be held for the first time under the national flag and Constitution.
He paid tribute to Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee, Pandit Prem Nath Dogra, and Baba Daleep Singh Manhas, and extended greetings to the nation on Ganesh Chaturthi and the Jain community on Paryushana Parva. He also introduced the BJP's candidates from 11 seats in Jammu district and urged the workers to not only defeat their opponents but also ensure that they lose their security deposits.
Shah pointed out that the upcoming elections are being held outside the shadow of Article 370, and the previous Lok Sabha elections saw a record-breaking 58.46% voter turnout, which was a significant increase from the previous 10%. He reiterated that there will be no talks with Pakistan until terrorism ends and peace is restored.
Responding to the opposition's promise of restoring statehood, Shah questioned Farooq Abdullah and Rahul Gandhi, asking who will restore the statehood. He also criticized them for misleading the public and stated that the central government and BJP have already announced that statehood will be restored at an appropriate time after the assembly elections.
Shah also accused the NC of trying to release stone-pelters and terrorists from jails and reviving terrorism in the peaceful districts of Jammu. He credited the BJP-led government for bringing down terror incidents in the region by 70%. He also assured that the NDA government will not allow the revival of terrorism, autonomy, or injustice towards any community, including Gujjars, Pahari, Bakerwals, and Dalits.
Referring to the NC's promise of implementing the autonomy resolution, Shah stated that no power can talk about autonomy when over 40,000 people have lost their lives to terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. He also brought up the 2000 resolution passed by the National Conference government, which was rejected by the Union Cabinet headed by then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Shah stressed that the NC and Congress will never form a government, as they have forced Maharaja Hari Singh into exile and only his ashes could be brought back after his death. He also reminded the people of the BJP's fulfillment of the demands and aspirations of the people of Jammu, including the announcement of a holiday on Maharaja Hari Singh's birth anniversary.
He asked the people if they want a government that insults the Maharaja and forces him into exile, and accused the opposition of having a divisive agenda. He also pointed out their plans of changing the name of Shankaracharya Hill to "Takht-e-Suleiman." He further stated that the corruption by the NC, Congress, and PDP is equivalent to the corruption in the entire country.
Shah urged the youth of Kashmir to not vote for them as their agenda will bring back terrorism and hinder development. He also highlighted the Modi government's efforts in spending over Rs 32,000 crore for the development of the Jammu region in the past 10 years. He credited the government for ensuring a peaceful Amarnath Yatra this year, with over 5.12 lakh pilgrims offering their prayers without any fear.
The Congress's Jammu and Kashmir unit chief Raman Bhalla slammed the BJP for targeting the NC-Congress alliance and stated that their tactics will not work. He also criticized the BJP for not engaging in meaningful debate on their governance record and resorting to smear tactics instead.
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