Srinagar/Jammu/Katra. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday attacked the Congress-National Conference and alleged that this alliance wants to implement the same agenda of terror master Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir, which has ruined generations and shed blood here. Referring to the alleged comments of Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif on Article 370, the Prime Minister said in clear words that he will not allow Pakistan’s agenda to be implemented in Jammu and Kashmir and no power in the world can bring back Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.
Modi was addressing an election rally at Katra, the base camp for pilgrims visiting the Vaishno Devi temple in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier in the day, he addressed a rally organised in support of BJP candidates at the Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium in Srinagar. In both the public meetings, the Prime Minister assured the people of this erstwhile state that Jammu and Kashmir will become a state again and only the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will fulfill this commitment.
Addressing the rally in Katra, Modi said, “There may not be enthusiasm in Jammu and Kashmir about the Congress-National Conference, but the neighbouring country is very enthusiastic about them. No one is asking about them here, but they are being asked about them there. The Congress-National Conference alliance is being praised in Pakistan. Pakistan seems very happy with their manifesto.” He said that the Defence Minister of Pakistan has openly supported the Congress-National Conference, who has said that the agenda of the Congress and National Conference regarding Article 370 and 35A is the same as that of Pakistan.
He said, “That means Pakistan itself has exposed the Congress-National Conference. That means Congress-National Conference want to implement Pakistan’s agenda here. The same agenda of Pakistan which ruined generations of Jammu and Kashmir, made us bleed… these people want to implement the same here again.” The Prime Minister said that for decades Congress-National Conference did the same work here which benefited Pakistan, the master of terror.
He said, “Even today they want to implement the same agenda of their terrorist masters. But today Modi is telling the Congress-National Conference in a loud voice that we will not let Pakistan’s agenda be implemented in Jammu and Kashmir. No power in the world can bring back Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.” It is known that Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has said in a conversation with a Pakistani news channel that his country agrees with the views of the Congress-National Conference that Article 370 should be restored.
Earlier, attacking the Congress, National Conference and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Srinagar, Modi said that depriving the people of Jammu and Kashmir of their legitimate rights has been the political agenda of these ‘three families’, while the BJP is bridging the distance between the heart and Delhi by uniting everyone.
He said that the youth of Jammu and Kashmir have again shown faith in democracy and they feel that their vote can bring about change. He called this change the first step towards the empowerment of the youth. Modi said that Congress, PDP and National Conference have given only Tashaddud i.e. fear and Intshaar i.e. anarchy to Jammu and Kashmir.
He said, “But now Jammu and Kashmir will not remain in the clutches of these three families….” The Prime Minister said, “Freeing Jammu and Kashmir from terrorism, defeating every force conspiring against Jammu and Kashmir and providing employment opportunities to the youth here… this is Modi’s intention and Modi’s promise.” The Prime Minister said that he will not let the current generation of Jammu and Kashmir be destroyed by the ‘three families’ and that is why he is sincerely engaged in restoring peace here.
He said, “Look today, schools and colleges are running smoothly in the entire Jammu and Kashmir. Children have pens, books and laptops in their hands. Today there are no reports of schools catching fire, instead there are reports of new schools, new colleges, AIIMS, medical colleges and IITs being built here.” He said, “The youth of my Jammu and Kashmir is no longer helpless. They are getting empowered under the Modi government. I am happy that the Jammu and Kashmir BJP has also made big announcements for the employment of youth. Whether it is skill development of children or providing government jobs to deserving people without any rigging…BJP will complete all these tasks here.” Modi said that these three parties and families have crushed democracy and Kashmiriyat for their own benefit.
He said, “Do you remember what they did in the 1980s? They considered the politics of Jammu and Kashmir as their fiefdom. They did not want anyone other than their family to come forward?” He said, “Otherwise, why did they stop Panchayat, DDC and BDC elections? They knew that if these new faces come, they will challenge the rule of their family. What loss happened as a result of their selfishness? The youth kept losing faith in democracy. They felt that whether they vote or not, only these three families will come to power.” Citing the end of stone-pelting incidents, boom in tourism and other development works, Modi said that the situation here has changed a lot in the last five years, which has restored the faith of the youth in the democratic process.
Giving details of the situation before the elections, he said, “Today the campaign goes on till late night. Now people are celebrating democracy. The youth have again restored their faith in democracy. They feel that their vote, their democratic right, can bring about change. This hope is the first step towards empowerment. The Prime Minister appealed to the people to ensure the victory of BJP candidates in the elections and said that his party candidates are among you for democracy, peace and prosperity.
Referring to the voting in Jammu and Kashmir in the first phase of elections, the Prime Minister said that this ‘bumper voting’ has rejected the parties that sympathize with stone pelting and terrorism. He said, “The people here have full faith in Modi’s guarantee of a safe and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir.” During the Prime Minister’s address, people raised slogans of ‘Modi-Modi’, ‘Khushamdid Modi’ and ‘Modi hai to mumkin hai’, for which Modi expressed his heartfelt gratitude.
Modi also put forth his views on the major issue of restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir in the elections and said that he has said in the country’s Parliament that Jammu and Kashmir will become a state again. He said, “Only the BJP will fulfill this commitment. We do what we say.”
Modi asks people to vote for future of J&K, promises to restore statehood
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday appealed to the people to vote wisely in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections and said that this election is related to the future of the state and they should ensure the political sunset of Congress, National Conference and PDP which have “wounded” the region for years. Modi was addressing an election rally in Katra, the base camp for pilgrims visiting the Vaishno Devi temple in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir.
He also accused the Congress leadership of insulting Hindu deities as part of a “well-planned conspiracy” and “Naxal mindset” and asked the people whether such parties should not be punished for this? The Prime Minister reiterated that his government will restore the statehood of Jammu and Kashmir. He also said that terrorism and separatism, which weakened after the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution, will be completely eradicated.
Urging voters to ensure the victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the elections, Modi said, “This election is to choose the future of Jammu and Kashmir. This election is to take ‘New Jammu and Kashmir’ to new heights.” Giving the slogan ‘Abki Baar, BJP Sarkar’, he said, “The three dynasties of Congress, National Conference and PDP together gave wounds to the people here for years. We have to ensure the political sunset of these parties by pressing the button with the BJP symbol ‘lotus’.” Modi told the people, “It is the BJP that gave priority to your interests and ended the decades-old discrimination with the region.” Modi’s rallies were held in Srinagar and Katra a day after the first phase of voting in the assembly elections.
In the first phase of polling, votes were cast in seven districts of South Kashmir and 24 constituencies of Chenab Valley region and more than 61 percent voting was recorded. Launching a scathing attack on the Congress, the Prime Minister alleged that the opposition party is putting “our faith and culture” at stake for a few votes.
This was the second election rally addressed by the Prime Minister in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday and the third in a week. Earlier today, he addressed another rally in Srinagar. He had addressed a rally in Doda district on September 14.
He said, “This is a place which is related to our faith and identity, so you should vote for a government that respects and promotes our faith and culture.”
Referring to the recent US visit of Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Modi said, “What do the heirs of Congress say on foreign soil? You must have heard them saying that our deities are not God. There is a tradition of worshipping deities in our villages. We are believers. But these Congress people say that these are not God. Do you agree with them? Is this not an insult to our deities? Should they not be punished for this?” He alleged that Congress leaders deliberately say such things.
Modi said, “This is a well-planned conspiracy. This is Naxalite ideology and an idea imported from other religions and countries. Today Congress is under the influence of this Naxalite ideology and you should be cautious about it.” He claimed that with such “Naxalite ideology” Congress leaders have attacked the Dogra tradition by making baseless allegations against the Dogra rulers. The Prime Minister said, “Congress is the biggest corrupt family in the country and this family is the birthplace and fosterer of corruption.” He claimed that the opposition party is accusing the family of Dogra rulers of being “corrupt”. Referring to Gandhi’s campaign against hatred, Modi said that in the name of “Mohabbat ki Dukaan” Congress leaders are selling the goods of hatred.
Modi said, “This is their old strategy. They do not look beyond their vote bank. That is why they increased the difference between the two regions of Jammu and Kashmir for decades and discriminated against Jammu.” The Prime Minister said that the BJP honored the last Dogra ruler Maharaja Hari Singh by announcing a holiday on his birth anniversary and “we put Jammu on the path of development”.
He said, “Modi is working day and night for the development of Jammu and Kashmir, whereas they (Congress and National Conference) never did any good for the youth and ruined their future. Not only Kashmir, the fire lit by them also burnt Jammu and the enemies of the country sitting across the border benefited from it.” The Prime Minister also paid tribute to Vijay Kumar, the driver of the bus which was attacked by terrorists in Reasi on June 9. Nine people, including seven pilgrims returning from Shiv Khodi, were killed in this attack.
He said, “Kumar sacrificed his life to save the pilgrims during the cowardly attack on the pilgrims a few months ago. Such an act inspires us.” Modi said that terrorism and separatism have weakened in Jammu and Kashmir since the removal of Article 370 in August 2019. He said, “Jammu and Kashmir is moving towards peace and development. With your support, this region will be completely free from terrorism.” The Prime Minister said that the BJP’s manifesto for the Jammu and Kashmir elections promises to bring a “white paper” on terrorism to provide justice to the victims of terrorism.
Modi said, “Our Kashmiri Hindus and Sikhs suffered due to the divisive politics of Congress, National Conference, PDP. Our manifesto also has special announcements to ensure a better future for them.” On restoring the state status, Modi said, “From the area of Vaishno Devi, I am promising that Jammu and Kashmir will be given back the state status. It is not that I am saying this in an election rally, but we have announced it in Parliament.”