70% Deaths due to Terrorism Reduced in J&K: BJP’s Amit Shah
Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement in the Rajya Sabha on Friday has sent shockwaves across the country. Shah claimed that there has been a staggering 70% reduction in deaths due to terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) during the tenure of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government. The development has sparked a heated debate on the effectiveness of the government’s policies in curbing terrorism in the region.
Shah made the remarks while participating in a discussion on the working of the Home Ministry in the Parliament. His statement comes at a time when the country is grappling with the menace of terrorism, particularly in the Valley. The abrogation of Article 370, which granted special status to J&K, has been a highly contentious issue, with the opposition parties accusing the government of trifurcating the state and violating the rights of its residents.
Shah’s statement has been welcomed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its allies, who claim that the government’s efforts have paid off in reducing the number of deaths due to terrorism in the region. However, the opposition parties, including the Congress and the Trinamool Congress (TMC), have questioned the accuracy of Shah’s claim, saying that the situation on the ground remains grim.
According to official figures, the number of deaths due to terrorism in J&K has indeed shown a decline in recent years. In 2019, the year before the abrogation of Article 370, there were 454 fatalities due to terrorism in the region. This number dropped to 272 in 2020 and further to 146 in 2021. However, the number of casualties in 2022 has been higher, with 241 deaths reported so far.
Shah also claimed that the involvement of Indian youths with terrorists has “almost disappeared” since the abrogation of Article 370. He attributed this to the government’s efforts to wean away the youth from terrorist activities and to provide them with alternative opportunities. The government has launched several schemes aimed at rehabilitation and skill development of the youth in the region.
However, the opposition parties have questioned the government’s claims, saying that the situation on the ground remains messy. The Congress has accused the government of using propaganda to hide its failures and of not providing adequate security to the people of J&K. The TMC has also accused the government of violating the rights of the people of J&K and of using force to suppress the voices of dissent.
The debate on the issue is not limited to the Rajya Sabha. The government’s decision to abrogate Article 370 and to bifurcate the state has been a contentious issue, with both supporters and opponents of the move engaged in a heated debate.
The government has justified its decision, saying that it was necessary to integrate J&K with the rest of the country and to provide equal opportunities to its residents. However, the opposition parties have accused the government of violating the rights of the people of J&K and of destroying the state’s special status.
The situation in J&K remains tense, with the security forces continuing to face challenges in maintaining law and order in the region. The government has launched several operations to flush out terrorists from the Valley, but the opposition parties have accused it of using force to suppress the voices of dissent.
In conclusion, Amit Shah’s statement on the reduction in deaths due to terrorism in J&K has sparked a heated debate on the effectiveness of the government’s policies in curbing terrorism in the region. While the government has welcomed the development, the opposition parties have questioned the accuracy of Shah’s claim. The issue is likely to continue to be debated in the coming days, with both sides presenting their arguments and counter-arguments.
