BJP's National Vice President Baijayant Panda on Monday stressed on how the central government's new policy of peace and development in Jammu and Kashmir under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ushered bright days for the Valley.
Referring to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statements at a function in Srinagar today, Panda said the efforts of replacing guns with pens has helped in the drastic decline in militancy and attacks on the security personnel in the Valley.
Panda lauded Shah's act of removing a bulletproof shield from the podium during his address to the public at the function today and termed it as a perfect example of how the efforts of the government since the revocation of Article 370 has begun to borne the fruits.
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In his media interaction, Panda was also critical of the former leadership of the Jammu and Kashmir who have suggested for a dialogue with Pakistan on Kashmir issue.
While Shah today ruled out any dialogue with Pakistan on the Kashmir issue and said he would prefer to “engage with the youth of the Valley”, Panda cited the Home Minister's stance as a policy of a 'New India'.
“There is no question of bowing down to threat because now today’s India is not the same that it used to be. In Kashmir issue, if someone wields gun and asks us to talk, it will not happen,” Panda said.
It was due to this policy of former leadership in the Valley, that our country lost thousands of valiant souls. But it will not happen again, claimed Panda.
Earlier in the day, Union Minister Amit Shah while concluding his three-day tour of the Union Territory (UT) reached out to the youth of the Valley during a speech at a function and said, "I have come with an open mind and am speaking my heart without a bullet-proof shield. I extended my hand of friendship to the youth.”
The Home Minister said that there was only one intention behind abrogation of the Article 370 - “to put Jammu, Kashmir and the newly-created Ladakh on the path to development.”