Amit Shah: A bullet fired by Pakistan at the Line of Control will trigger our artillery

Srinagar: Home Minister Amit Shah said on Saturday that Pakistan was afraid of (Indian) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which is why there was a ceasefire along the border.

“The rumble of artillery shelling has stopped and there is a ceasefire on the borders because Pakistan fears Prime Minister Narendra Modiji. If they create mischief and fire a shot, we will respond with an artillery shell,” he said at a BJP rally in Mendhar, a town near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district.

The home minister again attacked the three dynastic political families – the Gandhis, the Abdullahs and the Muftis – saying their “misrule” had wiped out several generations of Jammu and Kashmir's people and brought the erstwhile state to the brink of collapse. He added that the Union Territory Assembly (UT) elections in three phases were about ending the rule of the three dynastic parties – the Congress, the National Conference (NC) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) – “which have also hampered democracy here”.

He said that ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops had been common at the Line of Control and International Border (IB) with Pakistan in Jammu before, mainly because the then rulers of Delhi were afraid of Pakistan. “They (Pakistan) do not dare to do it now, but if they do, they will get a befitting response,” he said.

He claimed that the guns have fallen silent, there is peace at the borders and people are living in peace and going about their daily duties as a result of the concerted efforts of the BJP government at the Centre. He promised that the government will build more bunkers along the borders for the safety of the people.

He said that when Farooq was in power, the border areas of Jammu and Kashmir were frequently bombed. He accused the former chief minister and his national guard of fomenting insurgency and terrorism in the former state.

“Since 1990, this place has been destroyed by the menace of terrorism. Farooq Abdullah was responsible for giving arms to the youth here and thereby destroying their future. We will also give arms to the Paharis, the Gujjars and the Bakarwals, but through recruitments from the J&K Police, the Indian Army and other forces so that these institutions are further strengthened to effectively fight terrorism and save their homeland,” Mr Shah said.

He alleged that the Paharis, Gujjars and Bakarwals were deprived of their rights during the successive governments of NC, PDP and Congress. “I tell you, even if Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah turn on their heads, we will not reverse the reservation given to the Paharis. Rather, we will extend it for the benefit of the Paharis, Gujjars and Bakarwals,” he said.

He also blamed the dynastic political families – the Abdullahs, the Muftis and the Gandhis – for the killing of 40,000 people after the outbreak of the insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir in 1989. “Because of these three families, there were no elections for Panchayat, BDC and DDC in Jammu and Kashmir for a long time. Today, over 30,000 representatives of the Panchayats, blocks and districts are enjoying the fruits of democracy,” he said.

Later, addressing party meetings in Surankote, Thanamandi, Rajouri and Akhnoor, the Home Minister said that while Congress leader Rahul Gandhi talks of 'Mohabat ki Dukaan', he is issuing the 'farman (order) of terror' by proposing resumption of talks with Pakistan. “Until Pakistan stops terrorism, there can be no talks. Only recently, Pakistan's Defence Minister said that they are on the agenda of restoring Article 370 with the Congress and the NC. Rahul Gandhi should be ashamed of this incident, but instead he has come here to ask for votes,” he said.

The home minister said he wanted to tell the Abdullah family that Article 370 will never return no matter what they do. “Like Article 370, terrorism too has been buried and can never return no matter how hard they try,” he said. He alleged that the NC candidates were threatening people by telling them that they would face consequences if they did not vote for them. “But I request people not to be afraid because those who are threatening will face consequences. Let Omar Abdullah know that the Modi government will not allow terrorism to enter these beautiful hills of J&K again. Farooq Abdullah should be held accountable for the 35 years of spreading terrorism in J&K and putting weapons in the hands of children here,” he said.

Mr Shah alleged that Pakistan, the Congress and the NC are pursuing the same agenda in Jammu and Kashmir. “Rahul Baba recently said in America that they will do away with reservations once their party is in power. But I want to tell him that his party has always been against reservations. As long as the BJP is there, no one can do away with reservations,” he said.

The Home Minister praised the Gujjar, Bakarwal and Pahari tribes of Jammu and Kashmir, saying they have contributed immensely to the country's security since 1947. “In all the wars with Pakistan after 1947, they saved the country like soldiers. When terror raged through Jammu and Kashmir in the 1990s, these people braved the bullets of terrorists. I want to tell you today that the entire nation is proud of you and honours you.”

In these rallies too, he came down heavily on the dynastic parties — Congress, National Conference and People's Democratic Party (PDP). He added, “Now they are saying that they will review the decisions taken to spread democracy in Jammu and Kashmir. From the 1990s to 2014, they spread terror in Jammu and Kashmir, leading to the death of 40,000 youth.” He further said, “Many have ruined their lives by taking up stones or weapons. These three families have done nothing to stop terrorism. But the Narendra Modi government has worked to end terror and has given laptops to the youth. Modiji has eradicated terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and replaced the stones in the hands of the youth with laptops.”

He accused Omar Abdullah of terrorising the people, saying that terrorism will resurface in J&K. “But I want to tell him that Modiji is the Prime Minister and I am the Home Minister; we will never allow terrorism to raise its ugly head in J&K again.” He asked, “Where was Farooq

when terrorism tore the valley apart?” He answered himself: “He was enjoying his holiday in London. Do you want such a government?”

Presenting the report card of the BJP-led government, he said, “We have given health insurance of Rs 500,000, which is now being increased to Rs 1 crore for families with an elderly member.” He added, “We are giving 5 kg of foodgrains free of cost. Modiji has also decided to connect villages with just 50 inhabitants through concrete roads. The people of hills of Jammu and Kashmir are the biggest beneficiaries of this scheme.”

He said, “When I introduced the bill to give reservation to the Paharis in the Lok Sabha, Farooq Abdullah opposed it. A former judge (NC MP Hasnain Masoodi) also opposed it and started inciting the Gujjars. But we said that we would not reduce the reservations provided for the Gujjars and gave reservation to the Paharis. The Narendra Modi government is doing what it says.”

He said, “We have promised to give Rs 18,000 per year to the eldest woman in every family. Modiji gives Rs 6,000 to every farmer. If the BJP forms a government here, we will take it to Rs 10,000, reduce electricity tariffs for agricultural purposes and give up to 500 units of free electricity, build metro lines and an international airport in Jammu, develop the banks of the Tawi and create tourist towns like Pahalgam in Poonch and Rajouri.”