Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said BJP believes in winning the hearts of people and it will ultimately lead to the bloom of lotus in the Valley also.
He also accused NC, PDP and Congress of introducing gun culture in Kashmir and being involved in fake encounters.
“I want to clear the misgivings being created among Kashmiri youths that the BJP wants to take the land of Kashmir by force. The BJP is not among those who occupy land by force but believes in winning the hearts of people,” Shah told an election rally here in support of Jugal Kishore in Jammu today.
He said the BJP is in no hurry as it knows that the party’s symbol ‘lotus’ will bloom on its own in the Valley with the love of people.
Shah asked people in Kashmir not to vote for the Congress, National Conference and PDP, saying they have been exploited.
“These three parties did not allow democracy to grow in Jammu and Kashmir… on the pretext of security, our Kashmiri youths were exploited. I want to ask (National Conference president) Farooq Abdullah and the PDP as to under whose rule most of the fake encounters took place? And who fired on the children of Kashmir, handed over guns to them?
“These are the three parties responsible for all this. Modi restored peace in Jammu and Kashmir and paved the way for the region’s development. J and K slipped into backwardness due to terrorism and agitations for the past 70 years. Modi facilitated the end of terrorism, stone-pelting, and separatism and paved the way for development in J&K,” he said.
Counting the developmental works undertaken and progress that happened in one decade, Shah said peace and development are the new normal under the leadership of the Prime Minister.
“The region that benefited most during the 10 years of Narendra Modi’s tenure is Jammu and Kashmir and its people,” Shah said.
Remembering the sacrifices and agitations of Syama Prasad Mookerjee and Pandit Prem Nath Dogra, Shah said, “Article 370 no longer exists in Jammu and Kashmir, and the ‘Tiranga’ is flying high in every nook and corner of this region.
“Jammu and Kashmir— that witnessed terror-related incidents, stone pelting, Pakistan-sponsored terrorism, firing, and ‘hartals’ in the past — has now been replaced by peace, development, and progress under the leadership of PM Modi, “he said.
“Terrorism is taking its last breath in Jammu and Kashmir. Laptops have replaced the hands that were used for stone-pelting,” Shah said, adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes every section and society along.
He reiterated that the Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held as per the Supreme Court's fixed deadline.
Notably, the Supreme Court has ordered the Election Commission to conduct elections to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly before September 30, 2024, and directed the Centre for the Restoration of Statehood.
Shah said earlier that children from Jammu and Kashmir used to go outside to study, but now students from all over the country are coming to study in Jammu and Kashmir.
Taking a jibe at PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti, the Home Minister said she would say that if Article 370 is rolled back, nobody will pick tri-colour. “Today, Article 370 is buried forever and yet Tiranga is flying high with dignity and honour,” he said.
Shah said that he had stated on the floor of the Parliament that he will ensure that without cutting the share of Gujjars and Bakerwals, due reservation will be given to Paharis. “We gave due reservation to all—Gujjars, Bakerwals, Paharis, Valmikis, and OBCs. We gave reservations to women as well”.
He said BJP mulls to ensure every border village of Jammu looks like Jammu city.
“Today, Jammu is progressing. It was Jammu first, where E-buses started plying. Today, AIMS, IIMs, IITs are in J&K and students from across the country are coming here to studyWe are also committed to convert Suchegarh border like Wagah border,” he added.