Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently intensified his attack on the Congress party and its leader Rahul Gandhi, raising ten pointed questions that scrutinized the newly formed alliance between Congress and Farooq Abdullah’s National Conference (NC) ahead of the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections. In a series of public statements and tweets, Shah accused the Congress of jeopardizing national security and undermining the unity of India for the sake of electoral gain, suggesting that the alliance with NC was a dangerous move that could have far-reaching consequences for the region and the country.
Shah’s critique focused on the National Conference’s election manifesto, which he argued contained proposals that would not only reverse the progress made in Jammu and Kashmir but also reignite the fires of separatism and terrorism. By aligning with NC, Shah claimed that the Congress party was endorsing a range of regressive policies, including the restoration of Article 370 and 35A, which had previously granted special autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir. This, according to Shah, would plunge the region back into the turmoil that India had worked so hard to overcome.
The ten questions posed by Amit Shah were designed to corner the Congress party and compel it to clarify its stance on key issues that are highly sensitive in the context of Jammu and Kashmir. Shah asked whether Rahul Gandhi and Congress supported NC’s promise to reintroduce a separate flag for Jammu and Kashmir, a move that he suggested would symbolize a dangerous return to the days of separatism. He also questioned whether the Congress backed the idea of reinstating Article 370, a decision that Shah argued would undo the integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of India and give rise to renewed unrest and violence in the region.
Shah’s line of questioning didn’t stop there. He further accused the Congress-NC alliance of promoting separatism by advocating dialogue with Pakistan instead of focusing on the aspirations and welfare of Kashmir’s youth. Shah raised concerns about the proposal to start 'LoC Trade' with Pakistan, which he alleged would nurture terrorism and its ecosystem across the border, potentially threatening India’s national security.
Another significant point raised by Shah was whether the Congress supported the NC’s promise to reinstate government jobs for the relatives of those involved in terrorism and stone-pelting, a move he claimed would embolden extremist elements and bring back the era of strikes and instability in the region. He also targeted the alliance’s stance on reservations, accusing the Congress of supporting NC’s plan to end reservations for Dalits, Gujjars, Bakarwals, and Pahadi communities, thereby inflicting grave injustice on these marginalized groups.
Shah’s questions further delved into cultural and historical sensitivities, asking whether the Congress endorsed renaming significant landmarks such as 'Shankaracharya Hill' to 'Takht-e-Suleiman' and 'Hari Hill' to 'Koh-e-Maran,' moves that he suggested would erode the region’s cultural heritage and promote divisive politics. He also questioned whether the Congress supported NC’s alleged politics of discrimination between Jammu and the Valley, and their plans to grant greater autonomy to Kashmir, which Shah argued would only deepen divisions and weaken India’s sovereignty.
The questions posed by Amit Shah were met with a sarcastic response from National Conference leader Omar Abdullah, who tweeted, “Why do I get the feeling the BJP and its leaders don’t like us very much?” Abdullah’s response attempted to deflect the seriousness of Shah’s accusations, but it also highlighted the deep-seated animosity between the BJP and NC, especially as the election date draws nearer.
As Jammu and Kashmir prepare for their first Assembly elections since the abrogation of Article 370, the stakes will not be higher. The elections, set to take place in three phases on September 18, September 25, and October 1, will determine the political future of the Union Territory, which has been in the national spotlight ever since its special status was revoked. The outcome of these elections will not only shape the governance of Jammu and Kashmir but could also set the tone for future relations between the region and the central government.
Amit Shah’s relentless questioning of the Congress-NC alliance has set the stage for a highly charged electoral contest, where issues of national security, regional autonomy, and the identity of Jammu and Kashmir will be fiercely debated. The BJP’s strategy appears to be centered on painting the Congress as a party willing to compromise the nation’s integrity for political power, while the Congress and its allies argue for greater autonomy and rights for the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
This intense political battle is likely to resonate beyond the borders of Jammu and Kashmir, influencing national politics and potentially impacting the broader narrative of how India navigates the complex challenges of regional autonomy, national unity, and security. The electorate’s response to these questions and the issues they raise will be crucial in determining the direction Jammu and Kashmir will take in the post-Article 370 era, making these elections one of the most significant in recent history.
