Will talk to people of Kashmir, not Pakistan: HM Amit Shah

Srinagar, Oct 05: Union Home Minister (HM) Amit Shah on Wednesday ruled out any dialogue with Pakistan and said he would instead talk to people of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Home Minister further stated that elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held soon after the Election Commission completes the process of revision of electoral rolls in the UT.
Addressing the first public rally at Showkat Ali Stadium in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, Shah said some people are giving him suggestions that Government of India (GoI) should talk to Pakistan. Those who have ruled for seven decades in region are giving us suggestions, he said.
He said that he wants to reach out to the Gujjars, Bakarwals and Paharis of Baramulla, and the youth of Kashmir.
“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.
Questioning how many villages in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir have electricity connection, he said, “We have ensured, in the last three years all villages in Kashmir have electricity connection”.
While referring to a recent tweet of former J&K Chief Minister and PDP President, Mehbooba Mufti, in which she had stated, ‘Home Minister should go back only after giving an account of (what they have done), Shah said “Mehbooba ji, listen with open ears and eyes, what we have done, we will give its account but what you and Farooq (Abdullah) sahib have done, you should give that account later.
“I have come here to ask you, Mehbooba Ji and Farooq sahib, to tell us how much investment has come to Kashmir in 70 years? How many industries have been set up? How many factories have been opened, and how many youths have been given employment?,” the HM questioned.
He went on to say, that during the 75 years of family rule Jammu and Kashmir there was only Rs 15000 crore investments, however, in the past three years, Modi government brought Rs 56000 cr investment in the UT.
Shah said that the “Peoples’ Alliance for Gupkar Declaration model” (PAGD) had presented the youth of the region with stones, closed colleges, and machine guns in their hands, whereas Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s model has brought them education.
He said, “There are two models. One of PM Modi that gives employment, peace, and brotherhood; and another is the Gupkar model which led to the Pulwama attack. PM Modi made a hospital in Pulwama at an expense of Rs 2,000 crore.”
“The Gupkar model is laying the red carpet for the Pakistani terrorists into the country, whereas the Modi model is implementing an investment of Rs 56,000 crore on the ground giving employment to the youth,” the Home Minister said.
Shah said the Gupkar model placed stones, closed colleges, and machine guns in the hands of the youth. Modi model has IIM, IIT, AIIMS, NIFT, and NEET for the youth, he said. The youth wants education not stones in their hands.
Shah said so far this year, 22 lakh tourists have visited Kashmir valley and it will go beyond in upcoming years. “Now terrorism is on decline and tourism is on rise in JK,'” Shah added.
Shah said over 42,000 people of J&K have been killed due to terrorism and who is responsible for those innocent killings, Shah questioned.
“Has terrorism done any good to anybody in the world? The three families that ruled here were responsible. Terrorism is moving towards extinction,” he said.
“We do not have to follow the path shown by terrorists. I urge you to extend your support to us,” Shah said.
The Union Home Minister said terrorism in J&K has virtually ended and appealed to the people to join the mainstream.
“Our government wouldn’t tolerate terrorism. Come and join the mainstream and be part of development,” he said.
“Modi government’s “biggest achievement” was to take democracy to the grassroots in J&K.
“Before that democracy was limited to only three families, 87 legislators, and three parliamentarians,” he claimed.
“We have taken it to villages, to 30000 Panches and Sarpanches,” Shah said.
Amit Shah said that the expressway from Nangal to Baramulla and from Baramulla to Uri has been built at a cost of Rs. 850 crore.
“A 43-km road has been built connecting Baramulla to Gulmarg at a cost of Rs. 85 crore to help tourists travelling from Gulmarg to Baramulla,” the HM said.
He added that over one lakh families are being brought under the ambit of education through a scheme of Rs. 847 crore.
“Two stadiums have been built in 402 panchayats of Jammu and Kashmir along with one playground in each panchayat. Additionally, two indoor stadiums are also being built at a cost of Rs. 10 crore,” he said.
Shah said that in the month of September this year, 13 lakh tourists visited Gulmarg.
He said that installation of power plants and irrigation projects worth thousands of crores of rupees will bring prosperity to the valley of Kashmir.
In order to improve the rail network, the Minister said that the work on rail link from Udhampur to Baramulla has been initiated.
“Under the Pradhan Mantri Sadak Yojana, 119 new roads worth Rs.,3167 crore have been built, adding under the Prime Minister’s Industrial Package, an investment of Rs. 56,000 crore has come from across the country in Kashmir, which is likely to provide employment to five lakh people.
During the speech, Union Home Minister halted his speech, when Azaan sounded from a nearby Masjid in a gesture of respect and later resumed it immediately.