Amit Shah woos tribals of Poonch, Rajouri during campaign trail in J&K

Union Home Minister Amit Shah said Saturday that the tribals of Rajouri and Poonch are defenders of Jammu and Kashmir and the entire country was proud of them, as he slammed rival parties -- Congress, NC and PDP -- for giving "stepmotherly treatment" to these marginalised communities.

Seeking support of the Gujjars, Bakerwals, and Paharis for the ongoing assembly elections, Shah urged them to "cover the hills with lotuses (BJP's poll symbol)" and end the "monarchy" of the Gandhis, Abdullahs and Muftis, who he claimed have kept the Pir Panjal region underdeveloped for the last 75 years.

Addressing four rallies on Saturday, starting in Mendhar (Poonch) followed by Thanamandi and Rajouri, Shah attacked the National Conference (NC) Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Congress, saying the three parties have enabled the spread of terrorism in J-K since the 1990s.

"People here say that the Army and security forces are protecting them. But when you go to Gujarat, Maharashtra, or Bengal,