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05-10-2022
Bureau Report
NEW DELHI/ SRINAGAR: Indian Union Home Minister Amit Shah ruled out talks with Pakistan today and indicated that the elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held soon. Speaking to a huge crowd in Kashmir’s Baramulla, Shah said, “I assure you that once revision of revision of electoral rolls is completed, free and fair elections will held in J&K”.
The revision of electoral rolls, which started in August, is due to be over by November 25. There was speculation that the election, the first since 2014 will be held next year after the winter thaw.
This was Shah’s first public rally in Kashmir Valley after the revocation of its special status granted under the constitution and the division of the state into two Union Territories.
As thousands were brought to the rally in Baramulla in buses, Amit Shah remarked that he was told no one will attend his rally.
“I was told who will come to listen to you in Baramulla. I’m asking camera persons please turn your cameras and see thousands of people from this beautiful valley have come here” said Shah.
Midway through his speech, when Azaan sounded from a nearby mosque, the home minister halted his speech in a gesture of respect.
“Some people say we should talk to Pakistan. Why should we talk to Pakistan? We will not talk. We would rather talk to Gujjars, Paharis and the youth of Kashmir,” Shah said.
Questioning how many villages in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir have electricity connection, he said, “We have ensured, in the last three years that all villages in Kashmir have electricity connection”.
The home minister repeatedly targeted Gupkar Alliance, the conglomeration of the key political parties in the Kashmir Valley.
He also blamed Farooq Abdullah (leader of National Conference), Mehbooba Mufti (PDP leader) and the Nehru-Gandhis blaming them for the underdevelopment of Jammu and Kashmir. He also said terrorism thrived under their rule and even blamed them for Pulwama attack of February 2019 in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed.
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah hit back and reminded Shah that JJammu and Kashmir was under direct central rule when Pulwama attack took place.
