Mumbai, Nov 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has eliminated terrorism and Naxalism from the country, Union Home Minister Amit Shah asserted on Tuesday and declared that Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, will never be reinstated.
Addressing a rally in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar area ahead of the November 20 Maharashtra assembly polls, the senior BJP leader emphasized that for his party, the issue of Kashmir is closer to its hearts than political power.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ended terrorism and Naxalism from the country,” he told the gathering while campaigning for the ruling coalition Mahayuti, of which the BJP is a key member.
Referring to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, whose party is an ally of the National Conference, which heads the government in Jammu and Kashmir, he said Article 370, nullified by the BJP-led Centre in August 2019, will never be restored.
“I want to tell Rahul Gandhi that even if his fourth generation comes, Article 370 will not be restored in Jammu and Kashmir,” Shah insisted.
After the abrogation of Article 370, no one in the Union Territory has dared to throw a stone at the government, he said.
Last week, the newly-elected Jammu and Kashmir Assembly passed a resolution seeking restoration of the erstwhile state’s special status.
Shah criticized leaders of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) for opposing significant decisions such as the construction of a grand Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the removal of Article 370 from J&K, and major infrastructure initiatives.
He contended that their support appears limited to coming out with financial aid proposals such as a monthly payment of Rs 15,000 to maulavis (Islamic religious clerics), while they often oppose development projects.
Earlier on November 8, Shah said neither Congress leader Rahul Gandhi nor his future generations will be able to bring back Article 370.
Speaking at a campaign rally for the assembly elections in western Maharashtra’s Sangli, he targeted Congress for `supporting’ the National Conference in its endeavor to restore Article 370.
The assembly of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday passed a resolution seeking restoration of the special status.
Addressing the rally for ruling Mahayuti alliance candidates Sudhir Gadgil and Sanjay Kaka Patil here, the BJP leader said opposition leaders including Rahul Gandhi and NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar had opposed the scrapping of Article 370.
“From this land of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, I am telling you Rahul Baba that neither you nor your fourth generation will be able to restore Article 370. Every child of the country is ready to fight for Kashmir,” Shah said.
“When Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to abrogate Article 370, I brought the bill (in Parliament) but Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar, Mamata Banerjee, Akhilesh Yadav, and (M K) Stalin opposed the move. They said do not remove Article 370 as it would lead to bloodshed in the Valley. Forget rivers of blood, nobody dared to throw a stone,” he said.
During the “UPA government of Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh,” terrorist attacks were frequent, but after Modi became PM, the incidents at Uri and Pulwama led to surgical strikes that wiped out terrorists in Pakistan, Shah said.
He also referred to Congress veteran and former home minister Sushilkumar Shinde’s statement that he used to feel scared while visiting the Lal Chowk in Srinagar. “I would like to tell him, take your grandchildren to Kashmir, nothing will happen,” Shah said.
Rahul Gandhi now rides a motorcycle in Kashmir and plays snowball with his sister because of the abrogation of Article 370, he said.
