Srinagar: Union Home Minister Amit Shah stated on Saturday that the current peace along the borders in Jammu and Kashmir stems from Pakistan’s apprehension of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Speaking at an election rally in the border Mendhar area of Poonch in Jammu region, he claimed that if Pakistan were to attack Indian forces, the response would be swift and severe.
Shah highlighted the historical context, saying, “During Farooq Abdullah’s rule, this region frequently faced shelling. Now, those sounds have vanished because Pakistan fears Modi.”
“We will construct more bunkers along the borders for the safety of the people. I want to remind you of cross-border firings in the 1990s. Is cross-border firing happening today? It is because the earlier rulers here were frightened of Pakistan, but now, Pakistan fears Modi. They would not dare to fire but if they did, they would be given a befitting reply,” he said.
This marks Shah's first direct criticism of Pakistan during his campaign for BJP candidates in Jammu. He praised the BJP-led government for its efforts to combat terrorism in the region, emphasizing a shift from violence to opportunity for the youth, symbolized by the introduction of laptops instead of stones and guns.
Continuing his campaign rhetoric, Shah targeted the Congress, National Conference, and People’s Democratic Party (PDP), asserting that the ongoing assembly elections would end the dominance of three families: the Abdullahs, the Muftis, and the Nehru-Gandhis, whom he accused of undermining democracy.
The Home Minister said that had the Narendra Modi-led government not come to power, there would have never been any Panchayat or Block-level elections in J&K.
He accused NC president Farooq Abdullah of being responsible for giving guns in the hands of youth to destroy their future. “We will also give guns in the hands of Paharis, Gujjars and Bakerwals through police recruitment and recruitment of army and other forces so that they can fight the terrorism with full might and save their home land,” Shah asserted.
“Let me tell you if Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah would turn themselves upside down, we will not reserve the Pahari reservation. We will rather give reservation in promotions to Paharis, Gujjars and Bakerwals,” he announced
The Home Minister is on a two-day visit to Jammu and is scheduled to address four more election rallies in Surankote in Poonch, Thanamandi, and Rajouri.
Published 21 September 2024, 09:40 IST