Amit Shah wants JK ‘free from Abdullahs, Muftis’

Says BJP will fight elections to form govt, not just to elect MLAs

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah Monday launched a frontal attack on Kashmir’s Abdullahs and Muftis for their “under-performance and misuse of central funds.”

Shah, who is on visit to Jammu, said the two families of Kashmir—Abdullahs and Muftis—have failed to address the aspirations of all the regions of the State and they should be replaced. “There is a need to end the family rule in Jammu and Kashmir as the two families (of Abdullahs and Muftis) have only looked for their own interests at the cost of people’s aspirations,” Shah said, addressing a gathering here before welcoming the two-time Congress MP Lal Singh into the BJP.
Shah also questioned utilization of central funds in Jammu and Kashmir in the NC-led coalition government. “Jammu and Kashmir has been receiving maximum central funding as compared to other states, but these are not utilized on the ground,” he said. Reacting to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s statement that BJP has failed to bring ‘Achay Din’ for people living on the borders, Shah said: “On borders our paramilitary forces are giving a befitting reply to Pakistan but as Chief Minister of the State he must shun politicizing the issue and help victims of ceasefire violations who are putting up in migrant camps rather insulting them.”
Shah also hit out at the Omar Abdullah government over the Baltal incident and disallowing Kousarnag Yatra. “The state government should refrain from interfering in the religious affairs of any community and if a government fails to do so, people should punish it appropriately,” he said.
Terming Jammu and Kashmir as an “important state” for the BJP, Shah said, “Like me, every party leader is emotionally attached with Jammu and Kashmir as Jan Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee sacrificed his life for this state while fighting for rights of the people. So the real tribute to him would be the BJP government in J&K.”
Shah said in the BJP meetings, Kashmir is always remembered with the slogan ‘Jaha hue balidaan Mookerjee; Wo Kashmir Hamara Hai’ “and I have got this chance to pay real tribute to our great leader by installing a BJP government in the Assembly elections and the entire party will tirelessly work for this mission.”
On alleged discrimination with Jammu, he said, the BJP “will help the region get justice as it has been given step-motherly treatment by governments during the last 60 years.”
Shah said, “I am here with a message of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who wishes to usher in development in the state for it to move on the path of speedy progress.”
Listing out major “achievements” of the Modi regime in the first three months of coming to power, Shah said the new government “dedicated” three major projects to people of Jammu and Kashmir and if the pace remains, the same government will accomplish over 60 such big projects in the State.
“Have faith in BJP, which will ensure speedy progress and development of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

PTI ADDS
Ahead of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls, Amit Shah strongly pitched for a “nationalist government” in the State and called its people to end the dynasty politics to help the saffron party make a “Congress-free India.”
“There is need for a nationalist government in J&K in view of it being a border state and its unity and integrity,” Shah said, addressing a public rally at Kathua.
Hitting out at “dynastic politics”, he said, “BJP is fighting to make ‘Congress-mukt bharat’ (Congress-free India) and Jammu and Kashmir is also part of the country. So to make J&K Congress-free, you have to fight to make the state free from Abdullah and Mufti dynasties.”
“In J&K, the Abdullah family is replaced by Mufti and vice-versa. The governments change, but the development of the people and state remain standstill.”
Reaching out to the people of the region, Shah said, “If you want to have development in J&K, you will have to elect a BJP government. This time we are not contesting polls to merely elect MLAs, but to form a BJP government in J&K.”
He also hit out at the Omar Abdullah government over the incident of alleged targeting of community kitchens for Amarnath Yatra pilgrims.
Shah also said the BJP government will help get justice to those who suffered during the 1962, 1965 and 1971 wars.

AT RS PURA FUNCTION
The central government will resolve the issue of war refugees in Jammu-Kashmir in a time-bound and phased manner, Shah said at a school in RS Pura.
“I assure the refugees of 1947, 1965 and 1971 that the central government will act on their issues and demands in a time bound and phased manner immediately,” he said.
Striking an emotional chord with the people living in the border helmets, Shah said the party and the country understands the pain of the people who have to suffer due to Pakistani firing and assured them of all assistance.
“We feel the pain of border people affected from Pakistani firing. I assure you that the people of the country and BJP are with you. I bow my head before you for your patriotism and remaining firm in your border hamlets despite Pak firing,” he said.
Shah said Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has directed the Indian troops to give a befitting reply to firing by Pakistan. “We will not tolerate it,” he added.
“We know your problems and issues and we have an emotional attachment with the refugees of J&K,” Shah added.
The BJP chief, who was accompanied by Minister of State Jitendra Singh and other party leaders like J P Nadda and Ram Madhav, claimed that BJP will form the next government in Jammu and Kashmir and the party will get a majority in the assembly as it got in the Lok Sabha.
The border migrants of R S Pura sector spoke to the leaders about the problems faced by them due to “incessant firing” from across the border. The migrants sought rehabilitation to safer places and demanded five marla plots for each migrant family. “We cannot give the plots. That can be given by state government. But don’t be disheartened as the days of Omar government are numbered and BJP will form the government in J&K,” Shah said.
“It will be a government with majority like at the Centre in command of Narendra Modi,” he said while reacting to the demands by the migrants.

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