Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday came down heavily at the Congress and National Conference (NC) alliance in Jammu and Kashmir as he addressed a rally in Kathua ahead of the third and final phase of the Assembly elections in the Union Territory. He said that terrorism has been "buried" in J&K due to the efforts undertaken by Prime Minister Modi and that the whole country would rejoice if the BJP wins. Shah further claimed that if the Congress-NC emerge victorious then "celebrations will be held in Pakistan".
"If BJP candidates Jeevan Lal and Dilip Singh win, then there will be celebrations across the country. But if Congress and NC (National Conference) candidates win, then celebrations will be held in Pakistan. Do you wish Pakistan to celebrate?," he asked the crowd.
Shah assured that terrorism will never return to J&K till the time BJP is in power. Slamming the Congress-NC alliance, Shah also reminded Rahul Gandhi that despite his move to make Omar Abdullah's party his ally to win elections, he musn't forget that it was his grandmother Indira Gandhi who sent Abdulllah's granfather Sheikh Abdullah to jail for treason.
"The world is closely watching the Jammu and Kashmir elections, where two vastly different visions are at play. On one hand, the NC, Congress, and PDP parties, perpetuating terrorism in the region for around 40 years, are eyeing for power. On the other hand, the BJP, committed to rooting out terrorism entirely, offers an absolutely contrasting picture," he added.
The Union Home Minister claimed that the Congress-NC alliance has been wiped out in the first two phases of Jammu and Kashmir elections. He also hit out at Omar Abdullah for contesting from two Assembly seats out of fear. On Rahul Gandhi's claim to restore statehood in J&K if his party wins, Amit Shah responded that it can only be done when "BJP wants".
"Omar Abdullah is dreaming of becoming the CM again. Two phases of voting have concluded, and in these two phases, NC & Congress have been wiped out. Omar sahib used to say that he would not fight elections till the time J&K doesn't get statehood. Then he said he would contest from Ganderbal. Now, he is contesting from two separate seats because he is scared," he said.
"In the Parliament, I had clearly said that statehood would be restored after elections in Jammu & Kashmir. Rahul baba, you cannot restore statehood as you are in the opposition. It can be done only when BJP wants." Shah added.
Furthermore,the Home Minister said that the BJP will reduce electricity costs, repair vandalised temples in Jammu, construct airport and metro rail, and offer government jobs.
"We will reduce electricity costs for farmers by 50%, construct an international airport metro rail in Jammu and each year repair 100 temples which were vandalised by terrorists. We will also construct Tawi riverfront and bring water sports to Ranjeet Sagar Dam. We have decided to give 5 lakh govt jobs and 5 marla (local unit of measurement) land to the eligible beneficiaries," he said.