"Do they want to bring back terror sponsored by Pakistan?": Maharashtra CM Shinde slams Congress-NC alliance over stance on Article 370

Nagpur (Maharashtra) [India], September 19 (ANI): Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the Congress-National Conference (NC) alliance in Jammu and Kashmir (J-K), saying that people who want to bring back Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir (J-K) "will be taught a lesson by the public."
He also drew parallels to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, asking if the Congress-NC alliance wanted such terror events to be repeated.
"They (the Congress-NC alliance) talk about bringing back Article 370. Do they want to bring back the terror sponsored by Pakistan? Do they want 26/11 to be repeated?" Shinde asked while speaking to reporters in Nagpur.
"In the coming times, the people of the country will teach them a lesson. Those who talk about bringing back Article 370 will be taught a lesson by the people," he said.
The CM also hit out at Delhi's Chief Minister-designate, Atishi, alleging that her family had written mercy petitions to cancel the death sentence of 2001 Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru.
"Supporters of Afzal Guru now stand to become the Chief Minister of Delhi...Their (Atishi's) family members said that Afzal Guru should not be hanged," the CM added.
On Wednesday, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal had alleged that Delhi Chief Minister-designate Atishi's parents had close ties with SAR Geelani, who was accused in the 2001 Parliament attack case but was later acquitted by the Supreme Court.
Criticising Rahul Gandhi for remarks made during his US visit, CM Shinde questioned whether it is appropriate to criticise the country while abroad.
"Rahul Gandhi goes to other countries and insults his own country. He says nothing while living in India. Is this morally correct?" he asked.
During his interaction with the Indian diaspora in the US, Rahul Gandhi had said that the fight was about whether a Sikh would be allowed to wear a turban in India and visit a Gurdwara.
"First of all, you have to understand what the fight is about. The fight is not about politics; it is superficial. What is your name? The fight is about whether he, as a Sikh, is going to be allowed to wear his turban in India. Or if he, as a Sikh, is going to be allowed to wear a Kada in India. Or if a Sikh is going to be able to go to a Gurdwara. That's what the fight is about, and it's not just for him, but for all religions," Rahul Gandhi had said.
Referring to Rahul Gandhi's comments on reservations, CM Shinde further said that Congress workers should protest in front of Rahul Gandhi's house.
"They (Congress) say that they will remove reservation. Do they have the right to remove reservations? Congress people should protest in front of Rahul Gandhi's house. This is condemnable." he said. (ANI)