POONCH/UDHAMPUR (JK): Praising the record voter turnout in the first phase of assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said Jammu and Kashmir people have given a befitting reply by choosing ballot over bullet which he called a victory for democracy irrespective of the outcome.
“Militants are frustrated because they are feeling that despite the use of guns and bombs and killing people, democracy is still alive in this state,” Modi said addressing rallies ahead of second phase of polls on December 2 in the five-stage elections.
The Prime Minister said the people of Jammu and Kashmir have shown that they are not going to be terrorised.
“Those people were suppressing the power of ballots with bullets. For the first time, people of J&K have strengthened themselves. They have chosen the ballot and have given their reply to the bullets.
“I want to congratulate those voters of J&K who have voted in large numbers and made democracy victorious irrespective of the outcome,” Modi told an election rally here.
In the first phase of Assembly elections on November 25, Jammu and Kashmir had registered a record 71.28 per cent turnout, despite boycott call by militant outfits and separatists.
He said the state has been stagnant for the last 30 years due to lack of development and accused the ruling NC, Congress and PDP of indulging in corruption and looting the state besides “emotionally blackmailing” people.
“Give us one opportunity to end this loot. The development which has not taken?place in last 30 years, I will do it in next 5 years,” he said at a rally in Udhampur.
In Poonch, he said that even though it takes 24 hours from New Delhi to reach the district, it took 40 years for a Prime Minister to visit this area.
“It has taken around 40 years for a Prime Minister to come to this place. last time Morarji Desai came here some 40 years ago and now I am here, but I will continue to visit this place again,” he said.
He appealed to the people to give mandate to BJP, saying “give us an absolute majority and we will give you absolute development in the state, with no corruption and favouritism”.
In a veiled dig at coalition governments of NC-Congress and PDP-Congress, the Prime Minister said, “Those who have been rejected by the people of Jammu and Kashmir, take benefit and change coalition partners to remain in power and loot as much as they want by turns”.
Referring to his visit to the state during the recent floods, he said, “I consider your pain as mine, I consider your sufferings as mine. That is the reason why I did not celebrate Diwali and came here to spend the day with the victims of the floods in Jammu and Kashmir.
“I came here to wipe the tears from the eyes of the people who suffered because of the floods in the state,” he said.
