"If there is any conviction behind this so-called jihad, then they should first set an example by getting their own children to sacrifice their lives before calling out children of innocent familiesto use them as sacrificial lambs," he told a press conference.
"The best way to educate and motivate the youth of the country and Jammu and Kashmir is to make them understand that if this so-called jihad or fight to freedom is as holy as they are being made to believe, then they should ask their leaders why are their own children residing, doing jobs or studying in safe havens in other states, metros and at times, other countries," he added.
The Union minister hit out at NC and Congress for blaming the BJP for failing to contain the situation in the Valley and trying to propagate that lives were lost due to the "new BJP model of governance" in Jammu and Kashmir.
"The fight against terrorism should be united irrespective of political ideologies. We should not settle scores in the garb of terrorism.
"I want to remind the NC and the Congress that when they were ruling the state in 2010, a similar spate of violence had resulted in more than 100 people losing their lives," he said, adding that the Opposition parties in Jammu and Kashmir should be asked what model was in place when they were in power.
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