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Amit Shah, India's Home Minister and a key strategist for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), laid out a comprehensive plan for the party's victory in the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) assembly elections. Addressing a gathering of BJP cadres in Jammu, Shah emphasized the importance of mobilizing voters and highlighted the BJP's commitment to peace and development in the region. His speech was a blend of political strategy, pronouncements on the party's agenda, and attacks on the opposition.
Shah outlined a “formula” for BJP workers, urging them to ensure that not only their own families, but also three neighboring families, come out to vote in the elections. This strategy, he explained, draws inspiration from the “page committee” system employed in his home state of Gujarat, which focuses on mobilizing voters listed on specific pages of the electoral rolls. This method has proven successful in Gujarat and Shah is confident it can yield similar results in J&K.
Shah further emphasized the BJP's commitment to the well-being of the people of J&K, stating that the party would prioritize development, including infrastructure projects, while safeguarding the dignity and rights of the people. He underscored the BJP's pledge to bring peace and stability to the region, contrasting it with the opposition's perceived lack of commitment. He urged party workers to work tirelessly to secure victories for BJP candidates in all seats in Jammu.
Shah also invoked the legacy of Syama Prasad Mukherjee, a prominent BJP figure who advocated for a united India and died in prison in Kashmir under disputed circumstances. He used Mukherjee's sacrifice as a rallying cry, emphasizing that the BJP's goal is to establish the party's rule in J&K. This rhetoric resonated with the crowd, who responded enthusiastically to the slogan, “Jahaan hue balidan Mukherjee wo Kashmir hamara hai” (Where Mukherjee gave up his life, that Kashmir is ours).
Turning his attention to the opposition, Shah targeted the Congress and its alliance partner, the National Conference, accusing them of prioritizing their own political interests over the needs of the people. He specifically criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, alleging that the alliance's promise to restore statehood to J&K was merely a ploy to mislead voters. Shah asserted that the BJP had already committed to restoring statehood at an appropriate time following the assembly elections, a statement he claims to have made in 2019 during the abrogation of Article 370.
Shah further attacked the National Conference, accusing them of abandoning the people of J&K during times of terrorist activity. He claimed that the Abdullah family, led by Farooq Abdullah, fled to England during periods of violence. Shah also pointed to the reduction in terrorism and stone-pelting incidents in J&K following the removal of Article 370, highlighting the BJP's success in restoring peace and order in the region.
Shah's speech was a clear indication of the BJP's focus on mobilizing voters and capitalizing on the party's perceived success in bringing peace and development to J&K. His attacks on the opposition, particularly the Congress and the National Conference, highlight the BJP's determination to win the elections and consolidate its position in the region. The upcoming elections will be a crucial test for the BJP's strategy and its ability to maintain its hold on power in J&K.