NEW DELHI, June 28 - Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday accused the Congress of terrorism in Kashmir and responsible for the State�s current situation, alleging that former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru�s decisions were behind India losing one-third of its territory to Pakistan.
He was replying to a debate in the Lok Sabha on the resolution to extend President�s Rule in Jammu and Kashmir for another six months from July 3.
Shah alleged that the policies of previous Congress governments widened the wedge between the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the country.
He said his government is making efforts to bridge this gap and remove terrorism from its roots and restore democracy in the State.
The House passed by voice vote the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2019, to replace an ordinance issued by previous government, extending President�s Rule in Jammu and Kashmir, amidst opposition from the Congress and some other parties.
He told the House that elections in the State will be held in a free, fair and democratic manner once the Election Commission announces the schedule.
Shah said Article 370 of the Constitution, which extends special status to Jammu and Kashmir, is �temporary in nature� and �not permanent�.
In his maiden speech as Home Minister in the Lower House, Shah launched a blistering attack on the Congress alleging that it made the maximum use of Article 356 of the Constitution to dismiss elected governments in various States in the past.
�Today one-third of Kashmir is not with us. Who announced ceasefire when Pakistan encroached Kashmir after Independence and occupied one-third of its territory.
�Jawaharlal Nehru announced ceasefire and Pakistan took away that part of Kashmir,� he said alleging that Nehru did not take the then Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Sardar Patel into confidence.
�If he would have taken Patel into confidence before announcing ceasefire, then Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) would not have formed and terrorism would not have existed in Kashmir,� Shah said.
He said one-third of Indian territory is with Pakistan now.
The Congress members reacted sharply to this on which Shah said he would not take Nehru�s name but referred to him only as the first Prime Minister.
The Home Minister said the present government adopted �zero tolerance� towards terrorism and people who try to divide the country have fear in their hearts, which will increase in the coming times. � PTI
