Congress leader Sushilkumar Shinde has disclosed his apprehensions about visiting Lal Chowk in Srinagar during his tenure as Union Home Minister in 2012. Speaking at the launch of his memoir Five Decades in Politics, Shinde recounted his fear despite receiving public acclaim for his visit.
Shinde revealed that while he followed the advice of educationist Vijay Dhar to visit Lal Chowk and interact with people to gain publicity, he was actually quite scared. “People thought I was fearless, but the truth is I was apprehensive throughout,” Shinde admitted.
During his visit, Shinde was accompanied by then-Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, and made several public appearances, including stops at Lal Chowk and Dal Lake. His tenure as Home Minister also saw significant events such as the trials and executions of Ajmal Kasab and Afzal Guru, and the response to the 2012 Delhi gangrape case.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, who was present at the book launch, praised Shinde’s enduring patience and positive demeanor, contrasting it with contemporary leaders he criticized for their lack of action.
In response to Shinde’s remarks, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla criticized the Congress for allegedly seeking to return Jammu and Kashmir to a time of heightened terrorism. Poonawalla highlighted Shinde’s admission of fear as evidence of the Congress’s failure to address security issues effectively. He juxtaposed Shinde’s past fears with Rahul Gandhi’s current activities in Jammu and Kashmir, suggesting a lack of genuine concern from Congress leaders.
Shinde’s comments and the BJP’s response reflect ongoing tensions and differing perspectives on the handling of Jammu and Kashmir’s security and political landscape.
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