Union Home Minister Amit Shah has launched a fierce critique of the Congress party following its reported alliance with the National Conference (NC) for the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. Shah has raised ten pointed questions targeting Congress and its leader Rahul Gandhi, focusing on issues related to the NC’s election promises.
In a series of posts on X, Shah accused Congress of prioritizing political gains over national security and unity. He expressed concern over the National Conference’s proposals, including the restoration of Article 370 and 35A, which previously granted special autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir. This proposal is seen by Shah as a potential return to “an era of unrest and terrorism.”
Amit Shah’s 10 Questions for Congress and Rahul Gandhi:
1. Flag for J&K: Does Congress support the National Conference’s promise to reinstate a separate flag for Jammu and Kashmir?
2. Restoration of Article 370: Do Rahul Gandhi and Congress endorse the National Conference’s plan to restore Article 370 and Article 35A, which could lead to renewed unrest and terrorism in J&K?
3. Dialogue with Pakistan: Does Congress support the National Conference’s move to engage in dialogue with Pakistan, potentially fueling separatism?
4. LoC Trade: Do Congress and Rahul Gandhi agree with the National Conference’s decision to initiate trade across the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan, which Shah argues could nurture terrorism?
5. Appointments of Terrorism-Related Figures: Does Congress support the National Conference’s proposal to reinstate to government positions family members of individuals involved in terrorism or stone-pelting?
6. Anti-Reservation Stance: Is Congress in favor of the National Conference’s promises that might undermine reservations for Dalits, Gujjars, Bakarwals, and Paharis?
7. Renaming Landmarks: Does Congress support renaming significant landmarks such as Shankaracharya Parvat to Takht-e-Suliman and Hari Parvat to Koh-e-Maran?
8. Economic Corruption: Does Congress back the National Conference’s policies that could lead to corruption and economic mismanagement in Jammu and Kashmir?
9. Discrimination Between Regions: Does Congress support the National Conference’s alleged discrimination between Jammu and the Kashmir Valley?
10. Autonomy for Kashmir: Do Congress and Rahul Gandhi endorse the National Conference’s divisive approach to granting greater autonomy to Kashmir?
The Congress-NC alliance, which aims to present a united front against the BJP in the forthcoming elections, has sparked controversy with its promises and potential implications for Jammu and Kashmir’s political landscape.
Following a recent meeting between Rahul Gandhi and NC leader Farooq Abdullah, sources confirmed that a broad agreement on seat-sharing for all 90 assembly seats in Jammu and Kashmir has been reached. This alliance marks the first collaboration between Congress and NC in the region since 1987.
The Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections will be conducted in three phases on September 18, September 25, and October 1, with vote counting scheduled for October 4.