Amit Shah addresses first public rally in Kashmir since Article 370 revocation

Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday addressed a rally in Baramulla, his first in the Valley since the abrogation of Article 370 that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

While speaking at the rally, Amit Shah ruled out any dialogue with Pakistan, even as he went all out to target the “three families that ruled Kashmir for seventy years”.

“But I am clear, I don’t want to talk to Pakistan. I would talk to the Gujjars and Paharis of Baramulla. I will talk to the youth of Kashmir. They (Pakistan) have spread terrorism here. What good have they done for Kashmir," Shah said.

Amit Shah also announced that the elections to the J&K Assembly would be held as soon as the Election Commission completes the process of revision of electoral rolls in the Union Territory.

Calling the National Conference (NC) as “Abdullahs and sons” and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as “Mufti and company”, Shah charged that they allegedly gave stones and guns in the hands of Kashmiri youth.

The rally was attended by over 10,000 people, most of whom were from the border areas of Tangdhar, Uri and Bandipore.

Some of them were government employees, who accused their senior officials of “forcing” them to attend the rally.

Several layers of security had been placed around Baramulla and the traffic to the town was restricted from Sangrama, about 10 kms away from the venue.

Amit Shah said the Modi government’s “biggest achievement” was to take democracy to the grassroots in J&K. “Before that democracy was limited to three families, 87 legislators and three parliamentarians,” he claimed. “We have taken it to villages, to 30000 panches and sarpanches.”

Shah listed the developmental works undertaken by the Centre in J&K since 2014 and highlighted the setting up of new medical colleges – announced during the Manmohan Singh government – electricity to every village, free health cards to the people among its key achievements.