New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday said elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held soon, and statehood would be restored after situation becomes "normal".
He was speaking after releasing 'District Good Governance Index' for Jammu and Kashmir. The event was held in Jammu, and the Home Minister addressed it through video-conferencing.
Shah lauded the work done by Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha in the Union Territory and said statehood will be restored when situation becomes normal.
"Delimitation process has started. Elections will be held soon. Whatever people say, I have assured on the floor of Parliament, as soon as situation is normal J&K will get its statehood back," Shah said.
The Home Minister said law and order situation in J&K has improved.
"Some people say law and order situation in J&K has deteriorated after abrogation of article 370. I would like to tell them there is 40 percent decrease in terror incidents, and 57 percent decrease in number of deaths," Shah said.
"This proves peace is related to good governance. When people get good governance, they participate in development process," he said.
Shah also attacked the political parties in J&K and said "three families ruled for many years, what did the people get?'
He urged the youth of the Union Territory to join the development process.
"When I came to J&K, I told youth to participate in development," he said, adding that youth should not get misled by provoking statements.
"I want to tell my young friends in J&K, specially in the valley, walk on the path of development shown by Modiji. No one will be able to stop J&K from being the most developed state of the country," he said.
"The kind of statement some leaders make, they don't want tourists to come to J&K. But their statements don't matter, a record number of tourists have come in J&K during this winter, and the numbers will increase," Shah said.
The Home Minister also said the Good Governance Index at district level will push a healthy competition and improve governance.
Minister of State for PMO Jitendra Singh and the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir Manoj Sinha attended the event at the Convention Centre in Jammu.
Shah had released the National Good Governance Index on December 25, 2021. The Good Governance Index 2021 indicated that Jammu and Kashmir had registered an increase of 3.7 percent in Good Governance Indicators over the 2019 to 2021 period, as per a government statement. (UNI)