'Stop Fooling People': In Dig At Rahul Gandhi, Amit Shah Says J&K Will Get Statehood But Only Centre Can Do It

Attacking the Congress and National Conference (NC) ahead of the crucial elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday condemned the two parties’ push for the restoration of Article 370 and urged Rahul Gandhi to “stop fooling the people.”

During his two-day visit to the region, Shah said that Congress and the NC are claiming they will restore statehood, but only the Central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi can make it happen. Addressing Rahul Gandhi’s claim that the Opposition would restore statehood in J&K, Shah dismissed this narrative as meaningless, stressing that he had already assured statehood in his 2019 speeches in Parliament.

‘Tell me who can give it?’

“Congress and National Conference are saying they will restore statehood. Tell me who can give it? It is only the Central government, Prime Minister Modi who can give it. So stop fooling the people of Jammu and Kashmir. 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… Rahul Gandhi should stop misleading the people of J&K,” he added.

‘Terrorism reduced in 10 years’

The minister arrived in Jammu a day earlier to kickstart the BJP’s campaign for the upcoming assembly elections. This will be the first election in Jammu and Kashmir since its special status under Article 370 was revoked and it was reorganised into two Union territories in August 2019.

During his fiery address, Shah underlined that Kashmir has suffered a lot from terrorism. “The Bharatiya Janata Party has done the work of reducing terrorism by 70% in 10 years. After many years, the Amarnath Yatra was carried out fearlessly. After many years, night theatre started in the valley, Tazia procession was carried out in the valley. The people of Jammu and Kashmir especially the people of Jammu have to decide whether they want terrorism or peace, development,” he added.

On Friday, Shah said India is not in favour of talks with Pakistan until terrorism ends, stressing that “talks and bombs cannot go together.” Shah made these remarks while releasing the BJP’s manifesto for Jammu and Kashmir, dismissing any possibility of dialogue with Pakistan.

Talks and bombs cannot go together

Shah underlined the significant reduction in terror-related incidents and stone-pelting in Jammu and Kashmir over the last 10 years, asserting that Article 370 has become “history” and will never return. “Talks and bombs cannot go together. We are not open to talks with Pakistan unless terrorism ends. However, we will certainly talk to the youth of Kashmir,” Shah told reporters here.

When asked about the NC and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) pushing for talks with Pakistan and the restoration of cross-LoC trade, Shah responded, “Until terrorism ends and the trade-terror ecosystem is dismantled, we cannot agree.” Shah also criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for remaining silent on the manifesto of the National Conference advocating the restoration of Article 370.

“Congress must answer whether it supports the NC’s agenda. Article 370 is history and no one can bring it back,” he said. The minister accused the previous governments of bowing to separatism, stating that peace, development and social justice returned after the abrogation of Article 370.