Amit Shah Launches Scathing Attack On Opposition In Poll-Bound Jammu & Kashmir: 'Three Families...'

Union Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated that the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir will be restored, dismissing any notion of autonomy as unachievable.

Speaking ahead of the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, he firmly stated that "no power" can revive the idea of autonomy for the region.

Photo Credit: PTI

Shah also launched a sharp attack on opposition parties, specifically the Congress, National Conference (NC), and People's Democratic Party (PDP), accusing them of corruption during their past rule.

Addressing BJP workers in Jammu's Palauru on Saturday, Shah highlighted the importance of the upcoming polls, saying that it will be the first time voters will cast their ballots under the Indian Tricolour and a unified Constitution, following the removal of Article 370 in 2019.

"They (opposition parties) say they want to talk to Pakistan. Let me tell you, until there is peace, there will be no talks with Pakistan," he declared.

He slammed the Opposition's claims of restoring Jammu and Kashmir's autonomy, stating, "Three families - Congress, the National Conference's Abdullah family, and PDP's Mufti family - want to take Jammu and Kashmir back to the age of corruption... They speak of bringing back autonomy, let me state categorically that no power can talk of autonomy in Jammu and Kashmir."

Shah further took aim at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, accusing them of misleading the people by promising statehood restoration.

"I want to ask Rahul baba and Abdullah sahab, how will you restore statehood? Stop misleading the people of Jammu and Kashmir... this can only be done by the Union government and PM Modi," he stressed.

Shah reminded the public that he had already announced in Parliament that Jammu and Kashmir would regain statehood at an appropriate time, after the elections. "They are asking for something that we have already given, have you seen anything like this before?" he asked.

He contrasted the BJP's governance with the alleged inaction of previous governments in tackling terrorism, highlighting a 70% reduction in terrorism during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tenure.

Shah pointed to the successful conduct of the Amarnath yatra and the reopening of theatres in the region as signs of peace and progress. He warned that if the Congress-National Conference alliance were to return to power, terrorism could once again take root.

During his two-day visit to the region, Shah also unveiled the BJP's election manifesto, firmly stating that Article 370 is "history" and will never return.

Jammu and Kashmir will vote in three phases between September 18 and October 1, with results to be declared on October 8.