New Delhi, India: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday launched a scathing attack on the Congress party for forming an alliance with the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) ahead of the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. Shah accused the Congress of compromising the country’s unity and security in pursuit of political power.
In a series of pointed questions directed at Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi, Shah took to his official X account to highlight the potential consequences of the alliance. “The Congress has once again exposed its ulterior motives by allying with the Abdullah family’s National Conference,” Shah stated, accusing the party of prioritizing power over national interests.
The BJP leader raised concerns about the JKNC’s manifesto, particularly its promises to restore Article 370 and 35A, which were abrogated by the Modi government in 2019. “Does the Congress support the National Conference’s promise of a separate flag for Jammu and Kashmir? Do Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party support the JKNC’s decision to restore Article 370 and 35A, thereby pushing Jammu and Kashmir back into an era of unrest and terrorism?” Shah questioned.
Shah further criticized the Congress for allegedly supporting separatism by engaging in dialogue with Pakistan, rather than focusing on Kashmir’s youth. He also condemned the JKNC’s decision to start LoC trade with Pakistan, which he argued would strengthen the terrorist ecosystem across the border.
In addition to these concerns, Shah asked whether Congress supports the reinstatement of government jobs for relatives of those involved in terrorism and stone-pelting, policies that he claims would revive extremism in the region.
The Union Home Minister also accused the Congress party of opposing reservation policies that benefit Dalits, Gujjars, Bakarwals, and Pahadi communities. He questioned whether the Congress endorsed the JKNC’s proposal to end these reservations, which would result in widespread injustice.
In a pointed remark, Shah asked whether Congress supports renaming prominent landmarks in Jammu and Kashmir, such as changing ‘Shankaracharya Hill’ to ‘Takht-e-Suleiman’ and ‘Hari Hill’ to ‘Koh-e-Maran.’
The sharp critique comes as the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections draw near. The 90-member assembly of the Union Territory is set to go to the polls in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1, with the counting of votes scheduled for October 4.
In response, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah took to X and quipped, “Why do I get the feeling the BJP & its leaders don’t like us very much?”
The National Conference, in its election manifesto, has made 12 guarantees, with the most prominent ones being the restoration of Article 370 and statehood for Jammu and Kashmir, as well as the implementation of the autonomy resolution passed by the erstwhile assembly in 2000.
As the political battle heats up in the run-up to the elections, the Congress-National Conference alliance has become a flashpoint for both parties, with national implications for the future of Jammu and Kashmir.
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