Union Home Minister Amit Shah assures J-K statehood after assembly elections

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday assured that Jammu and Kashmir's statehood would be restored after the assembly elections at a rally addressing BJP workers in Jammu.

He termed the upcoming polls historic as it was the first under “one flag” and “one constitution”. Further, He accused the Congress-National Conference alliance of making attempts to revive the "old system".

"The coming elections in J-K are historic because after Independence, the polls are happening for the first time under our national flag and Constitution, unlike in the past practice of two flags and two constitutions. We have only one prime minister from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and he is Modi," Shah said.



Shah said that the NDA government would not allow the resurgence of terrorism, autonomy and injustice. He said that BJP would stand with all communities, including Gujjars, Pahari, Bakerwalas and Dalits, who were granted reservation by the BJP dispensation.

“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,” said Shah.

Shah took a jibe at the National Conference-Congress alliance. He alleged that they were trying to push Jammu and Kashmir into the “fire of terrorism” once again. He added that the government had brought down terror incidents in the Union territory by 70 percent.

"The National Conference and the Congress will never be able to form a government in J-K, be confident about it," Shah told the party workers, encouraging them to ensure the success of the BJP candidates to form the next government.


He also said that the alliance would talk to Pakistan but the BJP would not talk to the neighboring country till there was peace.

"They want to release those who are involved in stone-pelting and terrorism. Their aim is to release them and bring terrorism to our Jammu, Poonch, Rajouri where there is peace. Tell me will you allow terrorism to come to Jammu, Poonch, Rajouri? They want cross-LoC trade to be resumed. Who will benefit from it? They want to rename Shankaracharya Hill as Takht-e-Suleman. These three families- NC, Congress alliance and Mehbooba Mufti say they will give autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir. I want to say that no power can talk about autonomy now," said Shah.

Shah is in Jammu on a two-day visit to boost the BJP's election campaign for the three-phase assembly elections, beginning September 18.

He released the party's manifesto on his first day of visit on Friday and also chaired two crucial meetings with senior leaders to discuss the campaign strategy.

The Union territory will vote in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1. The counting will take place on October 8.