Jammu, Sep 6: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said Article 370 has become “history” and will never make a comeback in the Union territory.
Addressing a press conference here, the senior BJP leader said the last 10-year period will be written in golden letters in the history of the country and J&K, and urged people to vote his party to power to continue good governance.
Shah reached Jammu earlier in the day on a two-day visit to kickstart the BJP’s campaign for the assembly polls scheduled to be held in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1.
“I have gone through the National Conference agenda. I want to make it clear to the whole country that Article 370 has become history and will never make a comeback,” the Union home minister said in his speech before releasing the BJP manifesto.
He said Article 370 is not part of the Constitution anymore. “This Article has only given arms and stones in the hands of the youth and facilitated them to tread the path of terrorism,” Shah added.
“I want to tell Omar Abdullah that whatever the results, we will not allow you to touch the reservation granted to Gujjars, Bakerwals, and Pahadis,” he said.
Appealing to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to vote for the BJP in the assembly elections, Shah said, “Give us a five-year tenure to ensure the development of the region.”
Shah said that BJP will also release a “White Paper” on 40,000 killings in J&K and fix a responsibility as well post polls.
“We will release a white paper on 40,000 killings that have taken place in J&K in the past over three decades and also fix the responsibility,” he said
He said the BJP always wanted the integration of J&K with the Union of India. “Till 2014, J&K was plagued by separatism and terrorism. We also saw Hurriyat-backed governments in J&K,” Shah said. “After 2014, a new chapter of peace and prosperity was started under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
Taking a jibe at senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Shah said Rahul must explain whether he and his party support the NC manifesto that promises the restoration of Article 370 and, the release of stone pelters and prisoners involved in promoting secessionism. Shah also dared NC that no power could touch the reservation of Gujjars and Bakerwals.
“I want to ask Rahul does he and his party want a revival of terrorism, and separatism in J&K. Does Rahul support the restoration of two flags and Article 370? He won’t answer. But I want to state here that Rahul is very much in support of NC manifesto,” Shah said.
Replying to a query about the restoration of Statehood to J&K, he said: “I as a Home Minister have promised on the floor of the house that Statehood will be granted to J&K at an appropriate time after Assembly polls. Why demand something that has already been accepted.”
On the possibility of talks with Pakistan, Shah said that talks and terror can’t go together. “We will talk to the youth of Kashmir, not Pakistan unless Pakistan stops terrorism,” he said. Replying to a query about whether trade can be started with Pakistan, he said trade sets the base for terrorism. “So no question of trade with Pakistan till terrorism is there,” he said.
On the alliance, he said apart from the three families—Muftis, Abdullahs, and Gandhis, BJP will keep the options open. “One thing is sure that there won’t be NC, PDP, Congress government in J&K,” he said.
