It is really ‘ludicrous’ that a seasoned personality like Home Minister Amit Shah is claiming that victory of NC-Congress Alliance in J&K will bring back terrorism and stop development in the region. Such a statement from the ‘astute’ personality like HM Shah is a bit disappointing because the very same minister has questioned the parties like Congress and NC that how these can restore statehood which is basically the prerogative of the central government.
Although he was right in saying that no regional government could take such a decision as the helm for this is in the hands of Centre, but he should also know that law and order in J&K is also the sole prerogative of Centre only and how a ‘powerless’ government of alliance partners in the UT can vitiate peace when J&K Police and all the other paramilitary forces besides army are working under the command of central government. At the most the local government can use its influence or some sort of pressure only.
This statement goes against the earlier stand of the BJP leadership running the affairs of the government because it always boasted of countering terrorism in J&K with full force therefore the statement of HM Shah is bit confusing that why the security edifice will get weaken after a government of parties other than BJP will form a government in J&K, when the charge of the security of the region is in the hands of Centre, after the changes made on August 5, 2019 and various amendments in the laws thereafter?
All said and done, Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement that the victory of the NC-Congress alliance in Jammu and Kashmir could bring back terrorism has raised concerns, as the police and security forces in the region are under the control of the Ministry of Home Affairs, which he oversees.
His remarks suggest that a change in political leadership could weaken the current security framework, potentially allowing terrorism to resurge. However, given that security agencies remain under the central government’s authority, it is expected that they would continue their efforts to maintain peace and counter terrorism, regardless of the political outcome.
This creates a paradox, as effective counter-terrorism measures should be independent of the electoral results and political affiliations. Besides, if being the Home Minister, he has some credible inputs with regard to return of terrorism by the abetment of aforesaid political parties, he is free to take lawful actions against the guilty instead of taking the route of asking common man not to vote a particular party or an alliance.
