Modi asks people to vote for J&K’s future, promises restoration of statehood

Hits out at NC-Cong alliance over Pak minister’s remarks, says no power can restore Art 370

STATE TIMES NEWS

KATRA: 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, Modi also accused the Congress leadership of insulting Hindu gods and goddesses under a “well-thought-out conspiracy” and due to a “Naxal mindset”.
He addressed another rally in Srinagar earlier in the day.
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”.
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.”
He slammed the Congress and the National Conference (NC) 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.
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.
The Prime Minister 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”.
“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.