Promises statehood from foothills of Maa Vaishno
Katra, Sept 19: Asking people to cast their votes wisely in the ongoing Assembly polls that are “linked to the future of Jammu and Kashmir”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the voters should ensure the sunset of the politics practised by the Congress, NC and PDP, which have “inflicted wounds” in the region for years together.Addressing a poll rally in Katra, the base camp for the pilgrims visiting the Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district, Modi also accused the Congress leadership of insulting Hindu gods and goddesses under a “well-thought-out conspiracy” and due to a “Naxal mindset”.
This was the second rally addressed by the prime minister in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday and third in a week. He addressed another rally in Srinagar earlier in the day. On September 14, Modi had addressed a rally in Doda district.
The prime minister reiterated that his government will restore statehood in Jammu and Kashmir and also asserted that terrorism and separatism, which have weakened after the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution, will be completely wiped out from the region.
“This election is for choosing the future of Jammu and Kashmir. This election is meant to take the new Jammu and Kashmir to new heights of development,” he said.
“The three families of the Congress, NC and PDP inflicted wounds on the people here for years together. We have to ensure the sunset of their politics by pressing the button next to lotus, the BJP’s poll symbol. It is the BJP that has prioritised your interests and ended the decades-old discrimination against the region,” the prime minister said, giving the slogan “Abki baar, BJP sarkar”.
Modi’s rallies in Srinagar and Katra came a day after the first phase of polling in the Assembly election, covering 24 constituencies in seven south Kashmir districts and the Chenab valley region, and registering more than 61 per cent voting.
Launching a scathing attack on the Congress, the prime minister alleged that for some votes, the opposition party is capable of putting “our faith and culture” at stake.
“This is a place that has links to our faith and identity, so you should vote for a government that honours and takes forward our faith and culture,” he said.
Referring to Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi’s recent visit to the United States, Modi said, “What does the heir of the Congress say on foreign land? You might have heard him saying that our devi, devtas are not gods. There is a tradition of praying to devi, devtas in our villages. We are believers. But these Congress people say they are not gods. Are you satisfied with his words? Is this not an insult to our gods? Should they not be punished for this?”
He alleged that Congress leaders say such things intentionally.
“This is a well-thought-out conspiracy. This is a Naxal thought and ideas imported from other religions and countries. Today, the Congress is under the influence of this Naxal ideology and you should be cautious of it,” Modi said.
With such “Naxal ideology”, he claimed that Congress leaders have attacked the Dogra tradition by levelling baseless allegations on Dogra rulers.
“The Congress is the largest corrupt family in the country and this family is the birthplace of corruption and its nourisher,” he said, claiming that the opposition party is accusing the family of the Dogra rulers of being “corrupt”.
Referring to Gandhi’s campaign against hatred, Modi said in the name of “mohabbat ki dukan”, Congress leaders are selling the merchandise of hate.
“This is their old strategy. They do not see beyond their vote bank. That is why they widened the gap between the two regions of Jammu and Kashmir for decades and discriminated against Jammu,” he said.
The prime minister said the BJP honoured the last Dogra ruler, Maharaja Hari Singh, by announcing a holiday on his birth anniversary and “we connected Jammu with the path of development”.
“Modi is working day and night for the development of Jammu and Kashmir, whereas they (the Congress and the National Conference) never did any good for youngsters and destroyed their future. Not only Kashmir, the fire caused by them burned Jammu as well, while the country’s enemies sitting across the border benefitted from it,” he said.
The prime minister also paid tributes to Vijay Kumar, the driver of a bus that was attacked by terrorists in Reasi on June 9, resulting in the killing of nine people, including seven pilgrims returning from Shiv Khori.
“During the cowardly attack on pilgrims some months ago, Kumar gave his life to save the pilgrims. Such an action inspires us,” he said, adding that terrorism and separatism have weakened in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.
“Jammu and Kashmir is moving towards peace and development. With your support, the region will be completely free from terrorism,” Modi said.
He said the BJP’s manifesto for the Jammu and Kashmir polls has promised a “white paper” on terrorism to provide justice to terror victims.
“The divisive politics of the Congress, NC, PDP led to the suffering of our Kashmiri Hindus and Sikhs. Our manifesto also carries special announcements to ensure a better future for them,” the prime minister said.
On restoration of statehood, Modi said, “From the foothills of Vaishno Devi, I am promising that statehood will be returned to Jammu and Kashmir. Not that I am saying this at a poll rally, but we have announced this in Parliament.”
Leads charge against Cong, NC over Pak DM’s remarks
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched a scathing attack on the Congress and NC alliance following remarks by Pakistan’s defence minister regarding Article 370 and accused the coalition of pursuing the neighbouring country’s agenda.
Modi claimed that Pakistan’s agenda fosters violence and unrest.
The prime minister asserted that Article 370 cannot be reinstated in Jammu and Kashmir, emphasising that “no power on Earth can bring back Article 370”.
His attack came after Pakistani defence minister Khawaja Asif revealed that his country, the National Conference (NC) and the Congress are on one page on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and the restoration of statehood.
“You must stay vigilant. You have to be cautious. Every vote for the Congress facilitates the implementation of the manifestos of the National Conference and the PDP. What are they announcing?
“They will restore Article 370 and bring back the era of violence and bloodshed. Maybe there is no enthusiasm about the alliance of the National Conference and Congress here, but the neighbouring country is very excited. ‘Unki balle balle Pakistan mein ho rahi hai’ (They are being celebrated in Pakistan),” Modi declared at a massive rally in Katra, the base camp for Mata Vaishnodevi cave shrine.
The prime minister pointed out Pakistan’s open support for Congress and NC, and said, “Nobody talks about them here, but they are in currency there. Pakistan is happy with their manifesto. Pakistan’s defence minister has openly supported the Congress and the National Conference.
“He said the agenda of the National Conference and the Congress on Article 370 and 35-A is the same as that of Pakistan. This is what their ministers are saying,” he said.
Modi said Pakistan itself has exposed the NC and the Congress, showing that the two parties want to implement the bordering country’s agenda here.
“The agenda of Pakistan, which has destroyed generations and bled us in Jammu and Kashmir, is being implemented by these people here. The Congress and the NC have worked in a direction for decades that suited Pakistan,” he said.
Addressing his second rally of the day in support of BJP candidates in the newly formed Shri Vaishnodevi constituency in Reasi district, Modi said, “They (Congress-NC alliance) aim to revive Pakistan’s old agenda. Today, they want to implement the same old agenda of Pakistan.”
Sending a clear message to Pakistan, he said, “Modi wants to convey to them in stern language that we will not allow Pakistan’s agenda to be implemented in Jammu and Kashmir. No power on Earth can bring back Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.”
The prime minister addressed a rally early in the day in Srinagar summer capital. It was after 10 long years that Modi addressed a rally in Katra, where he had flagged off train service in July 2014.
Modi emphasised the BJP’s commitment to national development, urging voters to support a government dedicated to this cause.
“For the BJP, there is nothing as big as the country. Our priority is the development of the country. You have to vote for a government here that is committed to its promises,” he added.
Pakistani defence minister Khawaja Asif sparked a political controversy by claiming that the Pak government and the Congress-National Conference alliance were on the same page regarding the restoration of statehood and special status in Jammu and Kashmir.
Asif’s remarks came amid the ongoing assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the first since the abrogation of the state’s special status by the Narendra Modi-led government in 2019.
“Pakistan and the National Conference-Congress alliance are aligned on restoring special status and statehood in Jammu and Kashmir,” Asif said during an interview with a private Pakistani TV channel, adding that there was a high chance the alliance could win the assembly polls and come to power.
NC, Congress allowed India’s waters to flow across border
Prime Minister Narendra Modi slammed the Congress and the National Conference (NC) on Thursday for “allowing” India’s waters to flow across the border for seven decades and showing no nerve to construct dams for the utilisation of the resource that would have benefitted Jammu and Kashmir’s farmers.
Addressing an election rally in support of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate in this newly-created Assembly segment of Mata Vaishno Devi, Modi said his government is continuously improving road connectivity in the region to tap the full tourism potential of the area.
“The governments run by the NC and Congress allowed our waters to flow across the border. They never dared to construct a big dam here. The Shahpur Kandi dam project remained untouched for years and as a result, thousands of hectares of land in Jammu became lifeless,” he said.
He said if a BJP government was not formed at the Centre, the distressed farmers of Kathua and Samba districts would not have got a new lease of life with the Shahpur Kandi dam.
“Work on four hydro-power projects — Pakal Dul, Kiru, Ratle and Kwar — is going on at a rapid pace. This will not only benefit the region by improving power availability but also provide employment to youngsters,” the prime minister said.
Accusing the NC and the Congress of meting out stepmotherly treatment to Reasi and Udhampur districts, he said a railway bridge over the Chenab river was proposed by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government but the two parties kept the file buried.
“You handed over the work to Modi and the BJP and we not only completed it but made it an attraction for people,” Modi said, referring to the 1.3-km Chenab rail bridge located 359 metres above the riverbed (35 metres higher than the Eiffel Tower in Paris) that forms a crucial link in the 111-km stretch from Katra to Banihal, part of the ongoing prestigious Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project.
“This bridge, higher than the Eiffel Tower, brought the region in global focus,” he said, adding that the government sanctioned a Vande Bharat train to Katra immediately after the project was rolled out.
“Today, two such trains are running between Delhi and Katra. The condition of the Katra and Reasi railway stations was poor but both have been modernised with new facilities,” Modi said.
Road and rail connectivity has been improved to give an impetus to tourism, he said while pointing out that two crore tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir last year, besides the 95 lakh pilgrims who paid obeisance at the Vaishno Devi shrine.
“The arrival of the tourists and pilgrims benefitted small businessmen, fruit vendors and farmers. We will further boost tourism in the region with the completion of various projects like the Devika and Tawi riverfronts,” Modi said.
He also mentioned the youngest Indian Paralympic medallists — Sheetal and Rakesh — and said Katra played a big role in their success story.
“They made the country proud after training here with the blessings of Mata Vaishno Devi. Plenty of opportunities are available here and it is Modi’s promise that those will be utilised to the fullest,” the prime minister said.
He also talked about the Delhi-Katra expressway and under-construction roads and railway tunnels, and said once these projects are completed, connectivity will be improved further, benefitting all sections of the society, especially farmers and horticulturists.
Seeking support of the people for his party, the prime minister said Jammu and Kashmir will be taken to new heights of development.
‘No more helpless, J&K youth now empowered’
In Srinagar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the youths of Jammu and Kashmir have found confidence in democracy again and are feeling that their vote can bring change, which is the first step towards their empowerment.
Addressing an election rally in support of BJP candidates at the Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium here, Modi said the BJP will fulfil its promise of restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.
“The youths of my Jammu and Kashmir are no more helpless. They are becoming empowered under the Modi government. I am happy that the J-K BJP has also made huge announcements for the employment of youth. Be it their skill development or providing jobs without manipulation, the BJP will do all these,” he said.
Attacking the Congress, National Conference, and PDP, Modi said these three parties and families have “trampled” democracy and ‘Kashmiryat’ for their own benefits.
“Do you remember what they did in the 1980s? They treated Jammu and Kashmir’s politics as their own fiefdom. They did not want anyone except their families to come forward? Otherwise, why did they stop the Panchayat, DDC and BDC elections?
“They knew it would bring new faces who would challenge their family rule. What was the damage as a result of their selfishness? The youth kept losing faith in democracy. They felt whether they vote or not, only these three families will come to power,” he said.
The PM said the situation in Jammu and Kashmir has vastly changed over the last five years which has restored the confidence of youth in a democratic process.
“Remember the conditions in which elections were held earlier. The campaigns would stop by 6 pm. Door-to-door campaigns were impossible. The Congress, NC and PDP — these three families were happy with it. These people used to make merry by snatching your rights,” he said.
“Today, the campaign happens late in the night. Now, the people are celebrating democracy. Youth have found confidence in democracy again, they feel their vote, their democratic right, can bring change. This hope is the first step towards empowerment,” he added.
Modi sought to strike a bond with the audience as he began his speech in Kashmiri. “myanen saarni kashir bayen te baenen chu myoan saetha saetha namaskar. Kyah haal chaal chu? (greetings to all my Kashmiri brothers and sisters. How are you?)” he said, amidst applause by the people.
The prime minister made a slew of announcements for the welfare of Jammu and Kashmir if the BJP was voted to power. These included the restoration of statehood, Rs 10,000 annual assistance to farmers, Rs 18,000 annual assistance to the woman head of every family, and enhancing the health insurance from the existing Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7 lakh.
“We have promised in Parliament that we will restore J-K’s statehood. The BJP will fulfil this commitment,” he said.
He said the goal of his government is the fast progress and speedy development of Jammu and Kashmir.
“I have come here with the message of this sentiment. I can see today Kashmiri brothers are saying ‘khushaamdeed’ (welcome) PM, I also thank them from the bottom of my heart,” he said.
Referring to the ongoing assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Modi said it was a festival of democracy in which people have broken records in the first phase of voting that was held on Wednesday.
“Yesterday, seven districts went to polls in the first phase. For the first time, voting took place without the shadow of terror. It is a matter of pride and happiness that people came out to vote in such large numbers,” he said.
“Kishtwar recorded more than 80 per cent (voting), Doda more than 70, Ramban 70, Kulgam more than 60. Many seats saw previous records broken. A new history has been written by you, the people of J-K,” he said, as he appealed to the electorate going to polls in the second phase of the polls on September 25 to break all voting records.
The prime minister said the huge participation of people in the elections shows that their aspirations have touched new heights.
“Today, the world is witnessing how people in J-K are strengthening the democracy in India. For this, I congratulate the people,” he added.
Continuing his tirade against the Gandhi, Abdullah and Mufti families, the PM said these families feel they have a birthright to “rob” the people.
“Their political agenda has been to deprive people of their rights. They have only brought fear and chaos. But, J-K is not going to remain in the grip of these three families. Now, our youth is challenging them. The youth that they did not allow to progress, the same youth is now challenging them,” he said.
Referring to the three decades of turmoil in Kashmir, Modi said the valley had remained shut for 3,000 days.
“What are these family parties doing? They say they will bring back the old times. In the last 35 years, Kashmir was closed for 3,000 days which is eight years of bandhs. In the last five years, Kashmir has not closed even for eight hours.
“Now, tell me, do you want to bring back those old days? Do you want strikes and bloodshed again? Do you want our daughters and OBCs to lose their rights? They want cinema halls closed, they want trade to suffer losses, they want wrongdoings in recruitment,” he added.
Vowing to defeat the powers which are conspiring against Jammu and Kashmir, and to end terror in the Union territory, the prime minister said he wants to provide employment opportunities.
“It is the promise of Modi, I will not allow the destruction of Jammu and Kashmir. For the restoration of peace, I am making efforts with honesty. You can see schools and colleges are functioning normally across Jammu and Kashmir.
“Youth now have pens and books and laptops, not stones, in their hands. We don’t have news of fire in schools anymore. We now hear news about setting up of AIIMS, IIT and other intuitions,” he said.
He linked the incidents of violence to the previous governments of the Congress, NC and PDP, saying these parties “sold hatred in their political shops”.
“The schools which were burned in Kashmir were with the fire sold at their shops. No new schools were built. No academic activity took place for months together in the schools, colleges which were spared during this period,” he said, adding “for their own benefit, these families destroyed the future of our youth”.
He also blamed the three parties for “injustices” done to the minorities, including Kashmiri Pandits and Sikhs, in the valley.
“Kashmiri Pandits have played a great role in communal harmony and Kashmiriyat. But, three families have ruined them, and injustices have been done to Sikhs. They have been partners in all the excesses committed on them,” he said.
