Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a blistering attack on the NC-Congress alliance during the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) ‘Vijay Sankalp’ booth workers meeting in Jammu on Saturday. Shah, who is on a two-day visit to kickstart the BJP’s campaign for the upcoming assembly polls in Jammu & Kashmir, made several key statements aimed at rallying support for his party.
The assembly elections, scheduled to be held in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1, are seen as crucial for the BJP, which aims to consolidate its position in the region. Shah’s strong statements, which included promises of statehood for Jammu & Kashmir and accusations of terrorism against the alliance, highlight the heightened political stakes in the region.
One of the key targets of Shah’s speech was the alliance between the National Conference (NC) and the Indian National Congress (INC). He alleged that the alliance aimed to release separatists and terrorist sympathisers, destabilizing the region. “NC-Cong and PDP want to push Jammu and Kashmir into the fire of terrorism,” he stated. He also cautioned against attempts to tamper with the reservation system for specific communities. “I want to tell one thing to Rahul Gandhi that no matter how much effort you put in, we will not let the reservation of Gujjars, Bakarwal, Paharis, and Dalits be touched,” Shah asserted.
Addressing the issue of Pakistan, Shah declared, “Till there is peace, there will be no talks with Pakistan.” This stance emphasizes the BJP’s commitment to tackling terrorism before engaging in dialogue with Pakistan.
Shah highlighted the BJP’s track record in curbing terrorism in the region. He claimed that the BJP had reduced terrorism by 70% in the past ten years, citing examples like the fearless execution of the Amarnath Yatra, the resumption of night theatre in the valley, and the successful Tazia procession. He contrasted this with past governments that he alleged turned a blind eye to terrorism.
Shah also addressed the issue of statehood for Jammu & Kashmir, a key campaign promise for the BJP. He assured the people that statehood would be restored after the elections. “We have said that at an appropriate time after the elections, we will give statehood to Jammu and Kashmir. We have said this in Parliament,” he stated. This promise, aimed at placating concerns about the current status of Jammu & Kashmir as a union territory, is likely to play a crucial role in the upcoming elections.
Shah’s statements also aimed to counter the narrative pushed by the NC-Congress alliance. He dismissed claims that the NC was poised to form the government, stating, “The government of Congress and Farooq Abdullah can never be formed in Jammu and Kashmir.”
With the assembly elections just around the corner, Amit Shah’s speech has set the tone for a heated political campaign in Jammu & Kashmir. The BJP’s focus on development, security, and the restoration of statehood is likely to be central to its campaign strategy. The NC-Congress alliance, meanwhile, will need to find ways to counter these points and rally support in a region where political sentiment is deeply polarized.
