STATE TIMES NEWS

JAMMU: Highlighting an appreciable decrease in terror-related and stone-pelting incidents in the past 10 years in Jammu and Kashmir, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday asserted that Article 370 has become “history” and will never make a comeback.
Releasing the BJP’s manifesto for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls at a press conference here, Shah also questioned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on his party’s alliance with the National Conference (NC), and urged people to vote for the BJP to continue good governance.
He said the last 10-year period will be written about in golden letters in the history of the country and Jammu and Kashmir.
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.
This is the first election in the erstwhile state after its special status under Article 370 of the Constitution was revoked and it was bifurcated into two Union territories – Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh – in August 2019.
“It is sad; I have gone through the agenda of the NC and seen the Congress supporting it. I want to make it clear to the whole country that Article 370 and Article 35A have become history and will never make a comeback,” Shah said before talking about his party’s manifesto.
He said Article 370 is not part of the Constitution anymore. “This Article was the reason why weapons and stones were handed to the youth and they were then facilitated to tread the path of terrorism instead of contributing to development,” Shah added.

‘India not in favour of talks with Pakistan until terrorism ceases’

JAMMU: Union Home Minister Amit Shah unequivocally said on Friday that India is not in favour of talks with Pakistan until terrorism ceases, emphasising that “talks and bombs cannot go together”.
Shah made these remarks while releasing here the BJP’s manifesto for Jammu and Kashmir. He dismissed any possibility of dialogue with Pakistan amidst the ongoing terrorist activities.
“Talks and bombs cannot go together. We are not in favour of talks with Pakistan unless and until terrorism ends. But we will definitely talk to the youth of Kashmir,” Shah told reporters shortly after releasing the BJP manifesto ahead of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections.
Responding to a question about the National Conference (NC) and People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) demand for talks with Pakistan and the restoration of cross-LoC trade, Shah said, “Unless terrorism comes to an end and the trade-terror ecosystem is dismantled, we cannot agree with it.” Taking a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his silence on the NC’s manifesto, which advocates the restoration of Article 370, Shah said, “You should ask this question to the Congress. Whatever they do, nothing is going to happen.
Asked about separatists entering politics through elections, Shah said, “I do not have concerns about separatists. The people of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in the valley, have decided to support Narendra Modi ji in making J&K free of terrorism. I hope that your question has been seen by Rahul Gandhi.” Criticising the contradiction between the NC manifesto and Rahul Gandhi’s stance on reservations, Shah said, “There is a contradiction. This is a trait of Congress as they differ in what they say and what they do.
“I want to reassure the people of Jammu and Kashmir that Gujjar Bakerwal, Pahari, OBC, Dalit – the reservation given to them by us – nobody will snatch it. We will definitely continue,” the senior BJP leader said.
Commenting on Omar Abdullah’s decision to contest two seats, Shah said, “What can I say? First, he did not want to contest because of fear. Then he contested one seat following pressure on him.
“Now, one seat is not enough, he is contesting two seats. But Omar Sahib, the people are not with you,” the Union minister said.
On the rehabilitation of displaced Kashmiri migrants, Shah said, “We have given them migrant status in two ways. Those who have come here from the valley are called migrants. A detailed policy will be framed. We will ensure permanent rehabilitation.”
He said the government is in working on formulating corrective measures for those who had sold their properties at the peak of terrorism.
“At that time, a lot of Kashmiri Pandits, Hindus and Sikhs sold their properties and did not receive fair prices. We have been working on giving them the proper rate or getting their properties back. The work to provide jobs to 6,000 people in the valley is also complete,” he said.
Regarding the demand for statehood restoration, Shah dismissed it as an attempt to mislead people.
“I have clearly said on the floor of Parliament that statehood will be restored. We do not have any reluctance. What is this demand for?
“I have always accepted it. At an appropriate time, it will be restored. They do not need to demand it. There is nothing else to bat for, so they keep raising this issue,” he said.
Responding to Gandhi’s remarks that outsiders are ruling J&K, Shah said, “If he says presidential rule is outsider rule, then I want to tell Rahul Gandhi that there was more presidential rule during your time in J&K. Your so-called friends were not even living in the valley then. They were in London. The people were left to die here.”
He further added that this rule is necessary because Congress was instrumental in the birth of terrorism, injustice and the failure to scrap Article 370.
Reassuring the public, Shah said, “I cannot spell out the plan but nobody should be afraid. Security measures have been fully implemented by the Narendra Modi government and the J&K administration.” Replying to a question on Abdullah’s remarks that unlike outside, Muslims will not be allowed to get suppressed in the valley, Shah dismissed the claim, stating, “Nothing of the sort is happening anywhere. There is no question of it in Kashmir.”
He ruled out the possibility of a hung Assembly in Jammu and Kashmir. Asked whether the BJP could form a government with NC and PDP in case of a hung Assembly, Shah said, “There will be no government by the PDP, NC and Congress ruled by dynasties. Other possibilities, the BJP will explore.”

The BJP leader also accused the previous governments of bowing down before separatism, and said peace, development and social justice were restored on the ground after the abrogation of Article 370.
“There used to be a time when separatists were calling the shots and making demands. The governments were bowing down before groups like the Hurriyat Conference… different state and non-state actors linked to terrorism and separatism destabilised J&K as all the governments were involved in appeasement. But after 2014, whenever the history of India and J&K will be written, I believe these 10 years will be written about in golden words,” he said.
Shah added that the past 10 years saw peace, prosperity and development.
“The sound of guns and bomb blasts used to be heard in Kashmir for a very long time but everything changed in the last 10 years. A total of 7,217 (terror-related) incidents happened between 2004 and 2014 but the number dropped to 2,272 between 2014 and 2024, marking a 70 per cent decrease. The overall killings also dropped by 76 per cent and civilian killings by 80 per cent while there is a huge downward trend in security force casualties,” the minister said.
He said stone-pelting incidents dropped from 2,654 in 2010 to zero post-August 2019, while Pakistan-sponsored strikes also came down to zero from 132 earlier.
Not a single person died nor were security personnel injured in stone peltings as compared to 112 deaths in the previous years, Shah said.
“After 30 years, Kashmir tourism has got a big boost. Nightshows have become the new reality and processions by Shia mourners are being allowed for the first time in more than 32 years. Amarnath Yatra and Vaishno Devi pilgrimage also witnessed record-breaking numbers,” he said.
Referring to the NC manifesto, Shah said, “How could a party issue such a manifesto and the Congress support it? I want to ask Rahul Gandhi to make the party’s position clear to the nation. Does it agree with the NC’s agenda or not? Give us an answer in simple yes or no.”
“Your silence will not help. People know what is on the NC agenda, which talks about the release of stone pelters, review of cases of those arrested for terror links, review of strict action taken against relatives of terrorists and restoration of two flags by restoring Article 370,” he said. Shah said the NC manifesto also talks about reviewing the reservation policy and said, “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.”
“The BJP, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, granted reservation and ensured social justice for various communities post abrogation of Article 370,” he said, pledging to uphold the reservation to the communities.
The Union home minister said Jammu and Kashmir has always been important to his party and continuous attempts were made to ensure that it remained a part of the country since Independence.
“From Pandit Prem Nath Dogra to the martyrdom of Syama Prasad Mookerjee, the struggle started by Bharatiya Jana Sangh was taken to its logical conclusion by the BJP because we believe that J&K is and will remain an integral part of India, and there should be no doubt in it,” he added.
Earlier, Shah said, democracy used to be restricted to three families in Jammu and Kashmir with no election to local bodies, including panchayats.
“The BJP restored grassroots democracy by holding elections to panchayats and municipalities. Earlier, when 10 per cent voting used to take place in Kashmir, the national newspapers used to make it a headline… We had 98.3 per cent polling in panchayats and a record-breaking 58.46 per cent in the recent (Lok Sabha) elections, showing that the people in both the divisions are with democracy,” he added.