‘PoK came into existence because of Nehru’
Corrupt sweating despite cold in Valley
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Sept 22: Union Home Minister and BJP president Amit Shah today declared that after sometime Kashmir will be free of terrorism and will march towards development and again took a dig at “three families” for indulging in corruption saying had the Central funds given to the State reached to the people, there would have been gold-roofed homes.
Shah categorically blamed first Prime Minister of India Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru for existence of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and taking the issue to the United Nations under Charter 35 instead of Charter 51, making it disputed while on the other Sardar Patel, the then Home Minister successfully merged 562 States with India. Click here to watch video
“Article 370 had been misused by Pakistan to fan separatism and terrorism in Kashmir. With 370 now gone, Kashmir will be free of terror after some time and will start its march towards development. From August 5-September 22, not even a single bullet has been fired in Kashmir and no life has been lost. People are living peaceful life. There is no violence in Kashmir. The militancy will end in the coming days,” Shah said speaking at a rally in Mumbai.
Pointing towards rampant corruption in Jammu and Kashmir where he said Rs 2.77 lakh crore given by the Central Governments didn’t reach to the people, Shah said the people in Jammu and Kashmir would have had gold-roofed homes had previous Governments spent all the funds sent for development.
“The Indian Government sent Rs 2.27 lakh crore for Jammu and Kashmir development since its formation. Had it gone to people, their houses would have had roofs made of gold,” Shah said.
“With establishment of Anti-Corruption Bureau, the corrupt have started sweating in cold conditions of Kashmir valley,” he asserted.
He said that Article 370, which gave J-K special status, allowed Governments there to not establish an Anti-Corruption Bureau, making it easy for some to “loot” the money that was being sent by the Centre for development works.
“Previous Governments in J-K did not allow implementation of the Anti-Corruption Law. There was no Anti-Corruption Bureau either. Earlier Governments indulged in rampant corruption. As there was no ACB, money sent for the people was siphoned off,” he alleged.
Shah said Article 370 was not for protecting the culture of Jammu and Kashmir but for protection of their (political leaders) corruption.
The Home Minister said Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) would not have come into existence had Jawaharlal Nehru not declared untimely ceasefire with the neighbouring country.
Targeting Nehru over “non-integration” of Kashmir with India, the Home Minister said India’s Army was marching ahead successfully but suddenly Nehru declared ceasefire. The entire PoK would have been ours had Nehru not declared ceasefire, he added.
Further, he said, Nehru took the issue to the United Nations on January 1, 1948 under Chapter 35 instead of Chapter 51 because of which PoK became disputed.
“After Patel’s death, Delhi went for 1952 Delhi Agreement which laid foundation of Articles 370 and 35-A,” he recalled and said from 1990 to 2000, Kashmiri Pandits, Sufi Saints and Sikhs were forced to flee the Valley. Nearly 40,000 civilians have been killed in three decades violence in Kashmir. We fell pain of the killings,” Shah said.
He said, “I want to tell all BJP workers that our work doesn’t end at the removal of Article 370, our work starts now. It is our target to take this country forward on the chapter of nationalism and progress”.
Hitting out at the Congress and NCP, he said, they were “shamelessly” opposing the abrogation of Article 370.
Expressing confidence that Devendra Fadnavis will again be the Chief Minister after the Maharashtra polls on October 21, the Home Minister said he was happy that the campaign for the State polls is beginning with the discussion on our decision to remove Articles 370 and 35(A).
“The Congress sees politics behind Article 370 abrogation, but we don’t see it that way,” he said.
Shah said those who came from Pakistan to India, two of them – Dr Manmohan Singh and I K Gujaral – (later) became Prime Ministers, while L K Advani became the Deputy Prime Minister.
“But those (West Pakistani refugees) who stayed in J&K never had voting rights till Article 370 was removed. Today, these people can vote,” he said.
Shah said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been demanding proofs of the Government’s works, including surgical strike and air strike (by IAF after Pulwama attack), but stands with the ‘tukade tukade gang’ of the JNU.
“When Gandhi and (NCP chief) Sharad Pawar will be here for campaign, you should ask them whether they support or oppose removal of Article 370,” Shah said.
“Only (political) dynasties in Jammu and Kashmir are feeling threatened. Several communication lines are working, telephones are operational and some markets have also opened. You will soon get Kashmir’s famous apples in Mumbai,” he said.
Shah said nobody ever thought of abrogating Articles 370 and 35(A) so swiftly, but the Modi Government did it.
“Rahul Gandhi has come to politics recently. The Jan Sangh and later BJP’s three generations did not back off from making sacrifices for the abrogation of Article 370,” he said.
Shah said Gandhi needs to learn history.
“We (in opposition) stayed with the Government in the past over national issues, like when Atal Bihari Vajpayee supported Indira Gandhi during Bangladesh war or representing the Indian side in the UN over Kashmir issue,” he said.
He said Article 370 was and is a political issue for the Congress, “but for us, its removal was a promise of re-integration. You (Congress) see politics into it, but we see it as patriotism.”
Shah said out of 196 police stations in Jammu and Kashmir, prohibitory orders were in force only under 10.
“Ninety nine per cent of landlines are working, and 67 per cent mobile phone connections reinstated. Curfew has been removed from all areas and trade is going on,” he said.
He said after the abrogation of Article 370, people from the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes can now get the quota benefits in Government jobs.
“Thousands of Kashmiri minor girls were earlier married because the Indian Government’s Prohibition of Child Marriage Act was not applicable in the State. With Modi’s decision, Kashmiri girls are now safe,” Shah said.
On Pawar’s remarks that only a “Pulwama-like” attack can save the BJP from losing the Maharashtra polls scheduled next month, Shah said, “Whether something happens or not, the BJP will definitely win the Assembly elections.”
He urged people to come out in large numbers and vote in the polls and “show the right place to those who opposed the abrogation of Article 370”.
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