Union Home Minister Amit Shah declared on Monday that terrorists seeking refuge in Jammu and Kashmir’s mountains will be “buried so deep under the earth” that they cannot rise again. He made these remarks during a BJP election rally in the Paddar Nagseni Assembly constituency of J&K.
Promises to the People of Paddar Nagseni
Shah addressed the crowd in Paddar Nagseni, a region known for Mata Machal’s shrine. He promised to promote the Machal Mata Yatra on a national level if BJP candidate Sunil Sharma wins. Shah pledged that, if elected, he would return to express his gratitude.
Shah spoke of the sacrifices made by the region’s people during the 1990s and vowed to eradicate terrorism. He criticized the NC-Congress alliance for their past promises, such as releasing terrorists if they came to power. Shah assured that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, terrorists would remain in jail. He highlighted the strengthening of Village Defence Committees (VDCs) with automatic rifles as a measure to counter terrorism.
BJP’s Development Plans and Criticism of Opponents
Shah contrasted the BJP with the NC-Congress, criticizing their stance on Article 370 and accusing them of fostering terrorism. He said NC-Congress leaders like Farooq Abdullah and Rahul Gandhi were not fit to govern J&K. Shah also highlighted BJP’s achievements, including reservations and educational advancements for the region’s children.
Shah praised BJP candidate Sunil Sharma for his work on the delimitation commission and urged voters to support him. He promised that with Sharma’s election, along with MP Dr. Jitendra Singh’s influence in the PMO, the region would see significant development. He outlined plans for opening sapphire mines, boosting tourism, and creating jobs. Shah also promised improvements like a riverfront on the Tawi River and priority in paramilitary force recruitment.
In his closing remarks, Shah reminded the audience of BJP’s contributions, such as establishing a degree college, an ITI, and a district hospital in Paddar. He assured that under a BJP government, they would receive a hydropower project, an engineering college, and 130 communication towers. Shah concluded by reaffirming that Kashmir, for which Sayama Prasad Mukherjee sacrificed his life, belongs to India and no power can alter this fact.
