“Statements by NC, Congress leaders are treason”: BJP leader Ravinder Raina responds to Farooq Abdullah on terrorism in J&K

Rajouri (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], September 22 (ANI): Reacting to National Conference (NC) chief Farooq Abdullah’s remark questioning whether the central government has eliminated terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, BJP President Ravinder Raina said that the statements made by Congress leaders and the NC chief are treason and “supporting terrorists and separatists.”

“Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed a grand public meeting in Nowshera, thousands of people came to hear him. There is a massive wave of BJP in J-K right now… BJP will definitely win… Statements made by Farooq Abdullah and Congress leaders are treason, they are supporting terrorists and separatists…Policies of the National Conference, Congress, and PDP are not right,” Raina told ANI on Sunday.

Earlier, Farooq Abdullah criticized the central government’s development performance in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly in comparison to the progress made during the period of Article 370.

He referenced Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad’s remarks in the Rajya Sabha, which compared Jammu and Kashmir’s development to that of Gujarat, emphasizing that significant progress was made while Article 370 was in effect.

“When Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad compared two states in the Rajya Sabha the numbers showed that J&K was much above Gujarat…The governments here did it and they did it when Article 370 was in effect. We made progress. But what development did they give us in these years? Were prices reduced, and unemployment reduced?…Don’t wait till the last bullet is off. Take the bull by the horns. I want to ask the Union Home Minister Amit Shah, did they remove terrorism?” Abdullah said.

Earlier today, Union Home Minister Amit Shah that the central government will not hold any conversation with Pakistan until terrorism is eliminated.

Addressing an election rally in Nowshera in the run-up to the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, Shah stressed against revoking Article 370 in the valley as demanded by the opposition, including the National Conference and Congress.

“Farooq Abdullah says that they will bring back Article 370. Farooq Sahab, nobody can bring back Article 370. Now, bunkers are not needed because no one can dare to fire bullets. ‘Agar wahan see goli aayi to goli ka jawab gole se diya jayega’. They want to bring back Shiekh Abdullah’s flag. Only our tricolour will wave in Jammu and Kashmir. Terrorism continued in Jammu and Kashmir for 30 years, curfew was imposed in Jammu and Kashmir for 3000 days in 30 years, 40,000 people were killed.

Farooq Sahab, where were you during those days? Let me tell you, when Kashmir was burning, Farooq Sahib was comfortably holidaying in London,” Shah said.

“They want us to have a dialogue with Pakistan. Let me be clear, we will not hold conversations or dialogue with Pakistan till terrorism is eliminated. They want to free the terrorists from jails. Modiji came, and we wiped out the terrorists one by one. No terrorist or stone pelter will be freed from jail. BJP assures you, no terrorist will walk free in Jammu and Kashmir!,” he added.

Jammu and Kashmir is voting for its 90-member assembly in three phases. The first phase of voting took place on September 18

Notably, a voter turnout of 61.13 pc was registered in the first phase of polling in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls, which were held on 24 constituencies in seven districts on September 18.

Voting for the second and third phases in J-K will be held on September 25 and October 1, respectively. Votes will be counted on October 8.