Amit Shah responsible for civilian deaths in Kashmir, must immediately resign: Shiv Sena (UBT)'s Sanjay Raut

Sanjay Raut, Rajya Sabha MP and leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT). (File Photo: PTI)

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday said that the terror attack targeting civilians in Kashmir's Pahalgam a day earlier was the result of the divisive politics being practiced by the Bharatiya Janata Party under the leadership of prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Referring to Shah as "the most failed home minister in the history of India", Raut said demanded that Shah step down as the Home Minister immediately and accept responsibility for the government's failure in preventing the attack in Pahalgam that has led to the death of at least 26 people.

"The manner in which communal venom is spread in the country, the manner in which Modi and Shah are busy in eliminating the Opposition by buying leaders and arresting them, breaking political parties and bringing down governments…both Modi and Shah are spending their energy on these things and sidelining the country’s interests. How will they protect the people of this country?" Raut asked.

Raut further asked if the abrogation of Article 370 had helped peace return to the Kashmir valley and accused the BJP of "fooling the people of the country".

"Amit Shah is responsible for the death of 27 people, and he should resign immediately. This man spends the entire day playing politics, breaking parties, and on the other hand, our country is breaking,” he said, adding that both Modi and Shah lied in Parliament that terrorism is ending after demonetisation and the abrogation of Article 370.

Raut also sought to blow holes in the claims narrated by eyewitnesses of the terrorists asking for religious identity of the victims before killing and pointed out that even a Muslim was killed in the attack.

"Even Muslims have died in this attack. If religion was asked, then it is the responsibility of the BJP and its communal politics. Isn’t Amit Shah responsible? If the BJP is protesting against the attack, then they should condemn Amit Shah as well," he said.

"What is the meaning of replying to terrorists in the same coin? Will they bring down more mosques? Will they play the Hindu-Muslim card? Will they do a surgical strike as the Bihar elections are coming? What will they do exactly?" he further asked.