Shah hits out at Rahul, Pawar over Article 370
MAHARASHTRA POLL Home minister says ‘not a single bullet’ fired in Kashmir after Aug 5 move
SANGLI/SOLAPUR: Union home minister Amit Shah on Thursday hailed the Modi government’s “great job” of “integrating” India by scrapping Article 370, and asked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar to clarify whether they were for or against it.
Addressing poll rallies in Maharashtra’s Sangli and Solapur districts to campaign for the Bharatiya Janata Party, Shah accused the Congress and NCP of opposing the move for their politics of vote bank.
The BJP president lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for strengthening India’s image across the world.
He claimed the Congress and NCP have conceded defeat ahead of the October 21 Maharashtra polls, and urged people to re-elect the BJP-SHIV Sena and allies with two-third majority in the state.
Shah also asked Pawar to come clear on what the Congress-ncp governments did for people of Maharashtra.
“After becoming prime minister again, Modiji brought a historic proposal in Parliament...he did a great job of abrogating Article 370 and 35A from Kashmir...sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s dream of an integrated India stands fulfilled today,” Shah told a gathering in Sangli’s Jat area.
He said the Congress and NCP, however, opposed Modi and the proposal. “I want to ask Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and NCP chief Sharadraoji Pawar, Sharadraoji should tell the people of Maharashtra whether you are in favour of scrapping Article 370 or not?” Shah asked.
“I want to ask why did you oppose the proposal when the entire country wanted Kashmir to be an integral part of India. Because you wanted to play politics of vote bank, of appeasement,” he charged.
Shah said Rahul and the Congress had claimed that “river of blood” was flowing in Kashmir.
The BJP chief said Kashmir is peaceful and “not a single bullet” was fired.
“These people ran a false campaign in the country and across the world following the scrapping of Article 370, saying it will lead to problems. Modiji went to the UN, the entire world is standing with him on the issue, while Pakistan stands isolated in the world,” he added.
Shah also sought to underscore a difference between the Congress and BJP over the issue of national security, saying his party gives priority t o t he nation’s interest.
To drive home his point, Shah said late BJP stalwart Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the first to congratulate former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi after erstwhile Pakistan was divided into two parts (leading to creation of Bangladesh) following the India-pakistan war in 1971.
“We were in opposition, but for us nation’s interest was before the party’s interest. But you are opposing the scrapping Article 370, surgical strike and Air Force’s strike in Balakot,” Shah alleged.