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    Will work for Jammu & Kashmir welfare but won’t tolerate terrorism: Amit Shah

    Synopsis

    Shah said 40,000 sarpanches in 4,000 panchayats were doing a good job and have been provided with funds to work for welfare of the people.

    amit-shah-agenciesAgencies
    Shah emphasised that the government will have zero tolerance towards “Pakistan sponsored” terrorism and will succeed in crushing it with the support of locals.
    NEW DELHI: The government will go ahead with ‘Jamhooriyat, Insaniyat, Kashmiriyat’ motto in Jammu and Kashmir but will not tolerate terrorism, home minister Amit Shah said in a combative speech in the Lok Sabha on Friday aimed at reaching out to the people of J&K and sending a strong message to militants.

    Piloting the resolution for extension of president’s rule and the amendment bill for extending reservation to communities living on the international border, Shah rubbished the Opposition allegation that the previous Modi government had misused Article 356, saying of the 132 times, Congress governments imposed President’s rule 93 times.

    Shah emphasised that the government will have zero tolerance towards “Pakistan sponsored” terrorism and will succeed in crushing it with the support of locals. The government is committed to “well-being of Bharat Mata” and has ideological clarity on the issue. He picked holes in the policy Congress adopted since the prime ministership of Jawaharlal Nehru and held Nehru responsible for the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

    “We say even today that there cannot be division of the country on the basis of religion,” Shah said, alleging that Nehru prevented the border state from becoming a part of India unlike other 630 princely states. He blamed Nehru for one-third of Kashmir remaining under Pakistan occupation as he “did not take Sardar Patel into confidence before ordering a ceasefire” in 1948. Shah alleged that Nehru had treated Kashmir as a special case which led to Article 370.

    “Article 370 was temporary, not a permanent part of our Constitution. There is no change in our approach,” Shah said. There is speculation that the Modi government may do away with Article 35 A and Article 370 to remove the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir. However, he said that along with a strong approach towards terrorists, the Centre will protect the rights of the people and take them along. He said the panchayat elections held under governor’s rule were successful in which “not a drop of blood was spilled”. Speaking a day after his return from the state, Shah said 40,000 sarpanches in 4,000 panchayats were doing a good job and have been provided with funds to work for welfare of the people.

    “We did not take away the rights of the people, we actually gave it back to them. Earlier power was confined between three families and has now been given from them to the people,” Shah said, referring to the Abdullah, Mufti and Nehru-Gandhi families. His charge against Nehru was vehemently opposed by the Congress members but Shah stood his ground. “If more has to be given to the state we will give it as they (people of the state) have suffered a lot. We have a big heart,” the home minister said, adding that in 2015 a special package of ?80,000 crore was sanctioned for J&K.


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