Will talk to youth of Valley for development, not Pak: Shah
His remarks came days after NC president Adbullah asked the Union government to hold talks with the neighbouring country
SRINAGAR: Union home minister Amit Shah on Monday said the government of India will rather talk to the youth of Jammu and Kashmir than Pakistan, while adding that a new era of development has begun in the Union territory under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The home minister was addressing Panchayati Raj Institution Representatives (PRIs) and delegates at Sher-eKashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) on last day of his three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir, his first since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.
“Farooq Sahib has given some advice to the Union government — to talk to Pakistan. I want to tell Farooq Sahib, who has been a former chief minister of J&K, that we will talk to the people of Kashmir. I will talk to the youth of Kashmir Valley,” Shah said, adding that he has already extended his hand of friendship towards the youth of Kashmir.
His remarks came days after National Conference (NC) president Farooq Adbullah asked the Union government to hold talks with Pakistan.
“Why should we not talk to you?” Shah asked the gathering. Stating that he has visited Kashmir to talk to people directly, without bullet proof vests or additional security, to emphasise on the progress and development in the Union Territory, Shah said, “With a firm belief, I want to convey to you that under the leadership of
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a new era of development has begun in J&K and complete results of this development will be visible by 2024.”
Referring to the abrogation of Article 370, the Union minister said he was being regularly questioned on why the curfew was imposed and internet
ARTICLE 370, WHICH GRANTED SPECIAL STATUS TO THE ERSTWHILE STATE OF JAMMU AND KASHMIR, WAS ABROGATED IN AUGUST 5, 2019 AND THE STATE WAS BIFURCATED INTO UNION TERRITORIES OF J&K AND LADAKH
snapped on August 5, 2019. “By saying this, they want to misguide the youth of Kashmir Valley. If internet was not stopped and curfew not imposed in J&K, then there would have been bloodshed and the youth of Kashmir would have been killed. We did not want people to be killed.”
Article 370, which granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, was abrogated in August 5, 2019 and the state was bifurcated into Union territories of J&K and Ladakh.
Taking a swipe at the Muftis and Abdullahs without naming them, Shah said the three families that ruled J&K for 70 years would never understand the pain of an elderly father who is forced to lift the coffin of his young son. “Nearly 40,000 people were killed during their rule, but till date they have not condemned terrorism that is taking place in the Valley. We will not allow anybody to disturb peace here.”
On the issue of land being taken away, the home minister said that after the abrogation of Article 370, many people said the land belonging to local people would be taken away. “Panchayat members are here, sarpanches are here. Go and ask people in your villages, how much land has been taken away from them in the last two years. They (NC and PDP) are spreading lies. And if they come to your villages, tell them the truth that no land has been taken in your villages.”
Shah also heaped praises on J&K’s Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, saying he has provided jobs to more than 20,000 people. “Today also, six thousand people are being given jobs. Now, the corruption that the three families indulged in is a thing of the past.”