Amit Shah says J&K statehood will be restored after delimitation and polls

During his three days stay in the region, Shah is also expected to meet grassroot level political leaders, members of the BJP party and other key dignitaries besides flagging off new projects.

Srinagar: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday reached Srinagar on a three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory amidst heightened security cover. This is Shah’s first visit to the region since the abrogation of Article 370 and 35 A.

Soon after landing at the Srinagar airport, Shah met with the family of slain J&K cop Parvaiz Ahmad Dar at their residence in the city outskirts of Nowgam locality. He was accompanied by Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha, Union Minister Jatinder Singh, J&K chief secretary AK Mehta and Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbagh Singh. Dar, an officer with the police’s intelligence wing of Crime Investigation Department (CID), was killed by militants on June 22 near his home while he was returning from evening prayers.

“Visited the house of martyr Jawan Parvez Ahmed Dar and paid tribute to him. Along with me, the whole country is proud of his bravery. Met his family members and gave his wife a government job. The J&K Police is working diligently to realize the new J&K that Modi Ji has envisioned,” Shah said in a tweet.

Shah is visiting the region at a time when militancy-related violence has increased and resulted in the killing of over 30 persons including 12 civilians and at least 10 soldiers in October alone.

Given the rise in attacks, the home minister later held a security review meeting at Srinagar where he discussed the measures to be carried out with senior officials of UT administration, J&K police, Indian Army, Intelligence Bureau (IB) and paramilitary forces.

"The home minister discussed recent civilian killings, militancy and threat from Pakistan," an officer said on the condition of anonymity.

Shah also interacted with the members of youth clubs of Jammu and Kashmir in the capital.

“Over 40,000 people have died here that includes civilians, militants, security forces and others and we need to end it. Can terrorism and development go together? To achieve development we have to achieve peace first,” Shah said during the interaction.

He also said that elections would be held in Jammu and Kashmir only after delimitation and statehood will be restored thereafter.

"Delimitation, election and then statehood...this is the roadmap...," Shah said during the visit.

"The youth who were inclined towards stone pelting and terrorism are now talking about construction, development and employment after the abrogation of Article 370," he claimed.

During his three days stay in the region, Shah is also expected to meet grassroot level political leaders, members of the BJP party and other key dignitaries. He is also expected to inaugurate international flights from Srinagar and some infrastructure projects.

Meanwhile, former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti taking a dig at Shah, said that some of these projects were already announced by previous governments.

“Home Minister inaugurating international flights from Srinagar & laying foundation of new medical colleges aren’t new. Half a dozen medical colleges were sanctioned by UPA govt & are functional now. Post Article 370 abrogation & an engineered crisis, J&K has been thrown into chaos,” she tweeted.

In a series of tweets, Mehbooba added that the ground reality of Kashmir remains grim while there is a need to introduce confidence-building measures to provide a sense of relief to the people of the region.

“Like lifting the siege that J&K has been put under since 2019, releasing prisoners, ending the harassment faced by the people on daily basis, taking tangible steps to revive the economy especially horticulture would have provided a sense of relief,” she wrote on Twitter.

“Instead prior to his visit, 700 civilians were detained, booked under PSA & many shifted to jails outside Kashmir. Such oppressive steps further vitiate an already tense atmosphere. ‘Normalcy acrobatics’ are in full swing while reality is denied & obfuscated,” she added.