New Delhi, Oct 8: Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in a significant statement on Tuesday, declared that democracy has been revived in Jammu and Kashmir with the successful and peaceful conduct of the assembly elections, fulfilling a commitment made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Expressing his appreciation for the people of the Union Territory, Shah commended their robust participation, emphasizing that it marked a historic shift for the region. For the first time since the onset of terrorism in the 1980s, J&K witnessed an election process that was both transparent and peaceful, with a high voter turnout.
Reflecting on the region’s turbulent past, Shah highlighted the infamous 1987 assembly elections, which he alleged were marred by widespread rigging under the Congress, effectively undermining democracy. “The people of Jammu and Kashmir have not forgotten the mockery of democracy that took place in 1987 when elections were rigged openly by the Congress,” he stated in a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), adding that democracy has now been fully restored in the same Kashmir valley.
He also underscored Prime Minister Modi’s assurance to the nation that Jammu and Kashmir would witness peaceful and fair elections. “I am extremely happy that, for the first time since terrorism took hold in the 1980s, the people of Jammu and Kashmir experienced such a transparent and peaceful election, participating in large numbers,” Shah asserted. He extended his gratitude to the Election Commission, the J&K Administration, security forces, and the citizens of J&K for ensuring the success of what he described as “historic” elections.
The Home Minister drew a sharp contrast between the BJP’s governance and the previous Congress rule, which he said was characterized by a “reign of terror” and the daily undermining of democratic values. In contrast, under the BJP’s administration, the elections were conducted as a “great festival of democracy” with enthusiasm and freedom. “For the first time, people elected their representatives without fear of terror or panic,” Shah noted, expressing his heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for bringing about what he called an “unprecedented change.”
The assembly elections, held for the 90-member body, were the first since the abrogation of Article 370, which had granted special status to the former state. After a 10-year gap, the three-phase polling concluded on October 1, with the results being announced on Tuesday.