Jammu-Kashmir Assembly polls: Amit Shah holds rally in Poonch, slams NC-Cong

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday criticised the Congress and the National Conference NC and stated that during their governance terrorism escalated in Jammu and Kashmir leading to the deaths of thousands of people news agency ANI reportedThe Congress and National Conference governed here for 35 years terrorism surged and 40000 people were killed Jammu and Kashmir was shut down for 3000 days and remained in darkness for eight years You Congress and NC are responsible for this Shah stated during an election rally in Surankot in the Poonch district ahead of the second phase of JammuKashmir electionsNC President Farooq Abdullah came here and instilled fear among the people He said terrorism would spread into the Jammu region of Poonch Rajouri Doda and the hills But no one has the courage to bring terrorism to the hills I assure you we will eradicate terrorism the Union Home Minister addedHe also targeted the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for his comments against Sikhs ANI reportedRahul Gandhi talks about Mohabbat Ki Dukan and from that Mohabbat Ki Dukan he issues orders promoting terrorism and asks to engage in dialogue with Pakistan There will be no dialogue with Pakistan until it stops terrorism Discussions will only be held with my Pahari children Shah statedHe also reiterated the Bharatiya Janata Partys BJP electoral promises for the region and stated Here Jammu and Kashmir the seniormost woman in each household will receive an annual sum of 18000 The Ujjwala beneficiaries will be provided with two free cylinders and the price of the cylinder will be raised to 500 The annual amount of 6000 granted under Pradhan MantriKisan Samman Nidhi will be increased to 10000Earlier in the day while addressing a gathering in Mendhar ahead of the JammuKashmir Assembly polls Shah said Since 1947 in every conflict fought against Pakistan the soldiers from this land have protected India When terrorism arrived in the 1990s courtesy of Farooq Abdullah it was my Pahadi Gurjar and Bakarwal brothers who faced the bullets on the borders with valourYouth in JammuKashmir armed with laptops instead of stones Amit ShahTargeting the Congress NC and Mehbooba Muftiheaded Peoples Democratic Party PDP manifestos which pledge to restore Article 370 and reinstate Jammu and Kashmirs statehood Shah said This election will mark the end of the reign of three families in Jammu and Kashmir the Abdullah family the Mufti family and the NehruGandhi family These three families had stifled democracy here Had Prime Minister Modis government not come to power in 2014 the panchayat block and district elections would not have occurredThe Abdullah Mufti and NehruGandhi families have perpetuated terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir from the 1990s until now Today the BJP government under the leadership of Narendra Modi has eradicated terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir The youth here are now armed with laptops instead of stones he addedShah also highlighted the increased political participation of local youth Thanks to PM Modis relentless efforts around 30000 Kashmiri youth are now contesting elections at various levels exercising their democratic rights Shah saidReflecting on the security situation he commented Do you recall how much gunfire used to occur in Jammu and Kashmir during the 1990s Is there any such firing now Previously there was constant firing because the leaders here were afraid of Pakistan Now Pakistan fears PM Narendra Modi They do not dare to fire and if they do bullets will be answered with shellsThe Congress and NC are contesting the elections in alliance The PDP BJP and Peoples Conference among others are vying for all the 90 seats for the JammuKashmir Assembly pollsThis is the first election in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 Leaders are conducting rigorous campaigns to strengthen the prospects of their party candidates Voting for the second and third phases for the JammuKashmir Assembly polls will take place on September 25 and October 1 respectively The votes will be counted on 8 OctoberWith ANI inputs