Home Minister Amit Shah assured that assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir would be held within the deadline set by the Supreme Court, as per a report by The Indian Express.

Speaking at an election rally, Shah appealed to the youth of Kashmir to vote for any party except Congress, National Conference (NC), and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

The Supreme Court had set 30 September as the deadline to conduct the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir while upholding the abrogation of article 370.

Shah criticised the three parties, calling them “family-centric” and alleging that they work only for their own interests and not for the people.

He specifically targeted NC and PDP, questioning the number of fake encounters that occurred during their rule and who provided guns to the Kashmiri youth.

Without directly naming any party, Shah dismissed the propaganda that BJP aims to capture Kashmir, stating that their goal is to win hearts. He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bringing significant changes to the lives of Kashmiris.

Responding to accusations that BJP was not fielding candidates in the Kashmir Valley fearing loss of deposit, Shah stated that BJP is patient and will seek votes when the time is right.

He criticised PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti for her statement that there would be no one left in Kashmir to hold the tricolour if article 370 is abrogated. Shah emphasised that despite the abrogation of article 370, the tricolour continues to fly high.

Shah also mocked National Conference president Farooq Abdullah for saying that even if the Modi government is elected for the 10th time, it will not be able to abrogate article 370. Shah asserted that article 370 was abolished during the Modi government’s second term.

Former CMs Omar Abdullah of the NC, son of Farooq Abdullah, is contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Baramulla, while Mehbooba Mufti, daughter of former CM and PDP founder Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, is contesting from Anantnag.