Have extended hand of friendship to Kashmiri youth, will talk to people not Pakistan: Amit Shah

Says people of J&K have equal right like he has; 'Not a single piece of land of any villager snatched in J&K post Article 370 roll back as was being professed by vested interests'

Says people of J&K have equal right like he has; 'Not a single piece of land of any villager snatched in J&K post Article 370 roll back as was being professed by vested interests'

Srinagar, Oct 25 (KNS): The Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, who is on a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir Monday said that he will talk to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the youth not with the Pakistan. 

Shah, while addressing a public gathering at SKICC said that why should not we talk to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, and its youth. "We want to talk to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and that is why when I was talking to the youth the other day, I made it clear that I want to be friends with the youth of Kashmir and I extended my hand for friendship." 

Shah was reacting to the statement of National Conference president, Dr Farooq Abdullah wherein he had stated that the government of India should talk to the Pakistan to resolve Kashmir issue.  

Notably, this is Amit Shah's first visit to Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 and 35-A and bifurcation of erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories viz Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on August 5, 2019. 

Shah said that the Modi government is committed to the overall development of the Kashmir Valley, Jammu and Ladakh and the sole aim of abrogating article 370 and 35-A was betterment and development of all three regions. 

“I am often asked by some people why curfew was imposed in Kashmir and why the internet was snapped. Let me answer today. This was done to protect and save the lives of our youth. We didn’t want vested interests and anti-peace elements to exploit the situation and push our youth on roads to face bullets. This step was taken to save the lives of Kashmiri youth," he said.

He also said that Kashmir is in Modi Ji's heart and whenever he talks about Kashmir he asks where has the development been taken in Jammu and Kashmir. 

Shah said that it is the time to come out of this bloodshed and move towards a new journey of peace, development and prosperity. "I assure that J&K will get what it deserves by 2024. And I want to make it clear that the people of Jammu and Kashmir have the equal right like I have here. There is will be no discrimination," he said. 

He also said that the three families have exploited the youth and the people of Jammu and Kashmir for the last 70 yeas. "We understand what it means when a father shoulders the body of his young son. That is the reason we imposed curbs on August 05, 2019, because we did not want that emotions of the youth of the valley would be exploited and they would have to face bullets on the roads," he said. 

Shah also said there were rumors in J&K that after the abrogation of Article 370, land and jobs of the people would be snatched. “Give me one example, of any village, where land of any villager has been snatched. Under the leadership of J&K LG Manoj Sinha, 20,000 jobs have been provided and 6000 more are in offing,” he said. 

He, however, said that unlike previous regimes, especially two-families that ruled for 70 years, jobs will be given to those only who deserve it. “Time is over now when people of J&K would have to pay money for jobs. Nepotism and Corruption is over. Those questioning me should answer as to why youth were deprived of becoming Sarpanches and Panchs," he said.

Shah said that a chief minister here would leave people suffering and spend six months in London every year. "Now we have young sarpanches, panchs and other representatives, who can become MPs, MLAs and also the Chief Minister. J&K will have a CM who will stay with the people in districts," he said. 

He said that under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, Medical Colleges, AIIMS, IITS and other institutions were given to J&K. “We have 30,000 Panchayat representatives in J&K. There is hardly any house where there isn’t a cooking gas connection. Tap water is available to everyone. Electricity is available to every poor family and health cover of Rs 5 lakh is available for one and all across Kashmir. Why Dr Farooq and Mehbooba Mufti couldn’t do it in 70 years," he asked. 

Referring to Dr Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, he said under their leadership 40, 000 people have been killed and they never condemned the acts of militancy here. "What they is that it is not right that someone has been killed but they never say who is killing them and they never condemn their acts," he said, adding that "We will not allow anyone to kill anybody and we will not allow anyone to destabilize peaceful atmosphere here." 

He said that militancy is on a decline in J&K and efforts to replace guns with pens have borne the fruit. “These parties would demand to talk to Pakistan and Hurriyat. This way, they choked Kashmir’s economy only to enjoy power. Today, we have succeeded in replacing guns with pens even in militancy hot bed of Pulwama district besides other districts of the Kashmir Valley,” Shah said. (KNS)

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