The Shiv Sena has backed the Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP)-led central government over the prevailing situation in Jammu andKashmir. In an editorial in its mouthpiece Saamana, the NDA constituent laudedPrime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for tackling thesituation in the state.Referring to the recent advisory by the Jammu andKashmir administration, asking Amarnath Yatra pilgrims and tourist to leave theValley in the wake of terror threat, the Saamana editorial said that the reasonfor the same would be known in due course.Showering praises on Amit Shah, theeditorial said that earlier any Union Home Minister visiting Kashmir had toface protests, but when the BJP strongman went to the state, separatist leadersand terrorists hid in a corner.

The Shiv Sena said that the next move of Prime MinisterModi-led central government has been kept confidential, just like duringdemonetisation. “If the government is taking any step against terrorists, thenthey should definitely move ahead. The whole country stands with thegovernment,” the editorial added.The BJP ally feels that a “myth” that theKashmir issue can be resolved through dialogue needs to be done away with.According to Saamana, the Kashmir issue can be resolved only through militarymeans.The editorial also took a veiled dig at the previous Congress-led UPAgovernment, saying, “Now the Centre does not have an anti-Hindu governmentwhich succumbs before terrorists.”Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister andPeoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti also came under attack inthe Saamana editorial, which alleged that the language by the Kashmiri leaderand separatists were that of the terrorists and the Home Minister should nottolerate the same.

It added that it was the responsibility of Prime MinisterModi to dismiss the perception that additional troops had been sent to J&Kin a bid to revoke Article 35A.“On August 15 this year, all green flags inKashmir need to be replaced with the tricolour. What PM Modi says from LalQuila will also be looked at keenly,” said the editorial.

The editorial by Saamana comes after former J&K chiefministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah alleged that they had been placedunder house arrest, even as Section 144 was imposed in Srinagar as well asJammu.