Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticized the Congress and National Conference (NC) leaders for their stance on reservations, and assured that reservations for marginalized sections, including Paharis, Gujjars, and Dalits, will remain the same.
Addressing a rally in Jammu and Kashmir’s Nowshera, Amit Shah accused the Congress of trying to remove reservations, referring to Rahul Gandhi’s statement in the US that Paharis are no longer needed.
“Congress, NC said we will reconsider reservation given to Pahari, Gujjar Bakarwal, Dalit, Valmiki, OBC communities. Rahul Gandhi goes to America and says now they are developed, now they don’t need reservation. Rahul Baba, we will not allow you to remove reservation”.
He also assured that reservation will remain the same and rejected NC president Farooq Abdullah’s invitation to restore Article 370, saying firmly that “no one can restore it.”
Shah also took a tough stance on terrorism, vowing that no stone pelter or terrorist will be released in Jammu and Kashmir under PM Modi’s government, adding that there will be no talks with Pakistan until terrorism is completely eradicated.
He promised to talk to the youth of Jammu and Kashmir, whom he called “lions,” and not to Pakistan.
The Home Minister slammed the NC-Congress alliance for allegedly supporting the release of terrorists and stone pelters. He dismissed Farooq Abdullah’s remarks about reviving terrorism in the Jammu hills, promising to bury terrorism “deep under the earth”.
Amit Shah also assured the safety of border residents, noting that the government has built underground bunkers but stressed that they will not need them soon, because no one would dare to open fire on the other side of the border. “If they fire a bullet, we will respond with a shell,” he said.
(With input from PTI)