SRINAGAR: Union Home Minister Amit Shah today said the Jamaat-e-Islami and Hurriyat Conference, who don’t believe in the Indian Constitution earlier, have voted in Srinagar Parliamentary constituency election held on May 13 boosting the voting percentage to 36 which used to be between 8 to 13 percent during Farooq Abdullah Government.
“We have taken some hard steps. Those booked in FIR for stone pelting will not get the Government job. Those linked to terror have been removed from the Government services,” he said in an interview to a news agency.
Shah said those who earlier didn’t believe in the Indian Constitution including Hurriyat Conference and Jamaat-e-Islami have voted in Srinagar Lok Sabha seat election. Due to this, the voting percentage which used to be 8, 10 or 13 percent during Farooq Abdullah regime has gone up to 36 percent. Even voting percentage of Kashmiri Pandits has also reached 35, he added.
“Vote anyone but vote openly. This is your democratic right,” Shah said.
The Home Minister said after abrogation of Article 370, Kashmir has witnessed major changes and it was after 33 years that theatres have opened, Tazia procession was taken out, 2.11 crore tourists visited last year and not even a single incident of stone pelting took place during 2023 and 2024.
“Thousands of crore worth investments have come in Jammu and Kashmir. Major development schemes worth Rs 58,000 crore have been completed. Thirty three thousand representatives of Panchayats have been elected,” he said.
Shah said following abrogation of Article 370, peace has returned to Kashmir but Pakistan occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK) is witnessing protests while slogans of `Azadi’ which were earlier raised here are now being heard in PoJK.
