Srinagar, Oct 25 (UNI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday told the people of Jammu and Kashmir Centre is ready to have talks to address the problems in the union territory and speak to the youth living there but not with Pakistan.
On the final day of his first visit to the erstwhile state since the revocation of Article 370, Shah said: "Our intents are pure. We will not spare those who try to hamper development in J&K."
Shah also launched a scathing attack on the "three dynasties", whom he held responsible for the plight of the people in the Kashmir Valley.
Just days back, National Conference president and former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah advocated for India-Pakistan dialogue.
".. Today I want to speak to you frankly, which is why there is no bulletproof shield or security here....Farooq sahab ( Farooq Abdullah) has suggested we speak with Pakistan but I will speak to the people of the valley and my youth," Shah said while addressing a PRI representatives at Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) on the banks of Dal Lake.
“Why should I not talk to you. We want to talk to you (youth) . When I was talking earlier to the youth I told them I want to be friends with them. I have extended the hand of friendship and I am confident we don’t have any malice in our hearts and development of Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh is our sole agenda,” said Shah, who addressed youth in Jammu on Sunday.
The Union Minister asserted that peace will be maintained at every cost.
Wearing a Kashmiri traditional 'pheran', Shah said he is often asked by some people why curfew was imposed in Kashmir and why the Internet was snapped on abrogation of Article 370.
“Let me answer today. This was done to protect and save the lives of our youth. We didn’t want vested interests and anti-peace elements to exploit the situation and push our youth on roads to face bullets. This step was taken to save the lives of Kashmiri youth,” Shah said.
Taking a dig at the “three families” of J&K, Shah said why could they not bring as much development in 70 years as the Modi government has brought in the last two years.
“The time to give a job to your (three families) kith and kin has gone. Whoever has a merit, he gets a job but they are worried how someone gets a job without their nod,” he said.
“They say talk to Pakistan. By this they ended tourism in Kashmir. What is their motive? Is it industry should not come, development should not happen. So that youth take up stones and weapons.
"We want the youth to shun stones or guns and instead take tools in their hands,” he said.
The Union Home Minister arrived in Srinagar on Saturday morning on a three day visit to Jammu and Kashmir and chaired a high level security meeting. On Sunday he addressed a rally in Jammu.
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