Elections in IIOJ&K: Indian ministers continue anti-Pakistan rhetoric

ISLAMABAD: The Indian government on Sunday rejected the demand of Kashmiri leadership for the release of youth allegedly involved in pelting stones or minor offences against its occupation forces in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K).

Also, Indian defence and home ministers hurled threats at Pakistan separately on Sunday while taking part in the second phase of election campaign of the BJP in IIOJ&K.

According to media reports, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah took a tough stance at an election rally in the occupied Kashmir city Nowshera, saying no stone pelter or terrorist will be released and there will be no talks with Pakistan.

At the rally in support of J-K BJP president Ravinder Raina, Shah addressed the youth of Jammu and Kashmir as “lions”. He criticised the National Conference (NC)-Congress alliance for promising to release stone pelters and alleged terrorists in their manifesto. “The alliance wants to release stone pelters and terrorists. Farooq Abdullah is talking about revival of terrorism in Jammu hills, but I want to tell them that this is Modi government and we will bury terrorism in deep inside earth. No terrorist or stone pelter will be released,” he said.

Shah accused the NC and Congress of advocating talks with Pakistan. “I want to tell Farooq Abdullah and Rahul Gandhi that there will be no dialogue with Pakistan till terrorism is wiped out. I will talk with my lions (youth of J-K) and not with Pakistan.”

Referring to underground bunkers constructed for border residents’ safety, Shah said they won’t be needed. “Nobody has the power to open fire from across the border. If they fire a bullet, we will respond with a shell.”

Addressing a rally in Rajouri, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh questioned how India could keep good relations with Islamabad when they keep increasing terrorism. “We have a principle that if we want to live peacefully, we should have good relations with our neighbours. We want to have good relations with all our neighbouring countries, we want to have good relations with Pakistan as well. How can it happen that they keep increasing terrorism and we keep good relations with them?” Rajnath Singh questioned.

Referring to the 61 percent voter turnout in the first phase of elections, Rajnath said the people of the Kashmir Valley had raised the prestige of democracy.

Pointing out Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s recent statement on NC-Congress manifesto and Article 370, Rajnath Singh said Pakistan wanted exactly what the NC-Congress wanted. “The question arises whether the two parties are working as Pakistan’s proxy. These people raised questions about Pulwama so-called attack and sought proof of surgical strike and air strike. All these things clearly indicated that efforts are being made to run Pakistan’s agenda. We will not allow Pakistan’s agenda to work,” Singh said.

Addressing poll rallies in the Pir Panjal valley and Jammu plains, Shah also upped the ante against Pakistan in his poll speeches. “Only BJP can ensure peace and teach the neighbouring country a lesson,” Shah said. “They want to start LoC trade with Pakistan. They want to release the terrorists from jails, and Farooq Abdullah says terrorism will raise its head here again. No terrorist will be released from jail.

Reacting to Dr. Abdullah’s statement that his party fought against terrorism, he said, “I would rather ask him not to worry about it anymore because we are going to publish a White Paper on Kashmir terrorism and expose the role of the NC, Congress, and the Mufti family in it. Who brought terrorism to the valley? Who sheltered it? Whose government was there at the Centre? Whose government was here in Kashmir? We will expose who ate biryani with terrorists.”

Meanwhile, Pakistan discarded the Indian ministers’ allegations and maintained that it was India that was patronising terrorism against Pakistan. The sources in the Foreign Office told this scribe that the people of Kashmir wouldn’t allow New Delhi to play with their destiny.