Election announcement soon after final voter list is prepared: Amit Shah

SRINAGAR — Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said that announcement with regard to elections in J&K will be made once the final voter list and other preparations are completed.

He also lashed out at the National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stating that Abdullah and Sons and Mufti and Co are responsible for the killing of 42,000 people in J&K.

Addressing a massive rally at Baramulla district of northern Kashmir, Shah said that the announcement about elections in J&K will be made once the formalities like completion of the final voter list and other preparations are completed. “Process is on and preparations are in a full swing,” he said, as per the news agency KNO.

Taking a jibe at NC and PDD, Shah said that Abdullah and Sons and Mufti and Co are responsible for the killing of 42,000 people as these families did politics for their personal gains and left people suffering. “These families looted J&K resources for their personal benefit and did nothing for the common man,” he said.

Shah said that Baramulla was once a hotbed of militancy and militant-related activities were common here but “today this place is the hot spot of tourists.” “Sprawling Gulmarg is the skiers’ paradise, the shrines and the breathtaking snow-clad mountains of this place are attracting tourists in large numbers,” he said.

He said that without Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the development of J&K was impossible. “Today, we have the best roads, rail links, bridges and hospitals,” Shah said, adding that “we have nine medical colleges to J&K besides AIIMS and nursing colleges.”

Shah said that Gujjars, Bakerwals, and Paharis will be given due reservation as they were deprived of the benefits of democracy for the past 75 years. The Home Minister praised Maqbool Sherwani for his role against Pakistani invaders.

He also laid the foundation stone of various power, road and Jal Shakti projects. He said that the Government of India will talk to the youth, not Pakistan. “I am ready to talk to the youth of J&K on any issue but not Pakistan,” he said. Shah was in J&K on a three-day visit and flew back late this afternoon.

In Baramulla, Amit Shah halts his speech for Azaan

Union Home Minister Amit Shah paused his speech midway for Azaan, the Muslim call for prayers, during his public rally in this north Kashmir town on Wednesday.

According to the news agency KNO, Shah halted his speech when he heard Azaan from a nearby Masjid in Baramulla. Shah resumed his speech after the Azaan was over.

Shah here addressed thousands of people who had come from different parts of Kashmir to participate in the rally.

Amit Shah visits slain cop’s family in Baramulla’s Uri

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday visited the residence of a slain cop, Mudasir Sheikh, in Uri area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, officials said here.

Officials told the news agency KNS that the Home Minister visited the residence of the slain cop, who was killed by militants during an encounter in Kreeri area of the district earlier this year.

Shah expressed his commiserations with the parents and other family members of Sheikh and prayed for his soul.

Shah lauds efforts of security agencies for curbing militancy

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday chaired a high-level meeting to review the security situation in Srinagar, officials said here where he stressed making J&K militancy-free.

Amit Shah chaired a high-level meeting to review the security situation and lauded the relentless and coordinated efforts of the security forces to curb militancy in Jammu and Kashmir.

The top officials told the news agency KNS that the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Director IB, DGs of various Central armed police forces, J&K Police and Army officials were present in the meeting.

The officials said that Shah has directed the security grid to intensify the anti-militancy operation in Jammu and Kashmir to turn it into a militancy-free zone so that people here will be able to breathe a sigh of relief and will taste a real democracy.

“Chaired a meeting to review the security situation of J&K in Srinagar. People of J&K is witnessing a new era of peace, progress and prosperity under the leadership of PM @narendramodi Ji. applaud the relentless & coordinated efforts of our security forces to curb terrorism,” the HM said in a tweet.

Amit Shah gives appointment orders to families of four slain cops

Union Home Minister Amit Shah handed over appointment letters to the kin of four Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel who were killed in militant-related incidents in Kashmir.

The Home Minister shared photos on Twitter of his meeting with the relatives of the police personnel killed by militants in the Kashmir valley.

“Met the family members of the Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel who were killed while fighting against militants and handed over appointment letters to the kin of four such martyrs,” Shah in a tweet said and lauded the Jammu and Kashmir Police’s efforts in fighting against militancy and said the entire country salutes their sacrifice.

According to officials, the families were given job letters by the Home Minister at the Raj Bhavan here on Tuesday late evening.

Notably, the HM is on a three-day tour of J&K, starting Monday. On Tuesday, he visited Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine at Katra and also addressed a public rally in Rajouri following which he reached Srinagar.

Amit Shah visits Gurudwara Chati Patshahi in Rainawari

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday visited Gurudwara Chati Patshahi in Rainawari area of Srinagar.

An official told the news agency KNO that Shah paid obeisance at Gurudwara Chati Patshahi. He said that Shah was accompanied by Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha and other senior officials, besides several senior BJP leaders.