Amir Tantray
Udhampur, Apr 12 : Giving a major boost to Bhartiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) ongoing election campaign for Udhampur Parliamentary seat, Prime Minister Narendera Modi Friday said that for the first time in 70 years, J&K will see the Lok Sabha polls where terrorism, stone pelting, bandhs, and Ceasefire Violations (CFVs) are non-issues now.
Addressing a mammoth gathering at Udhampur, PM Modi while campaigning for MoS in PMO and BJP’s candidate for Udhampur Lok Sabha seat Dr Jitendera Singh, said that in 1992, he came to Kashmir to unfurl the tri-colour. “And in 2014, I came again with a promise that if people will trust me, I will return the same with interest. I had promised you that I will resolve all issues confronting the people of J&K since the past 70 years and I have fulfilled my promise,” he said as per news agency. “This is because Modi’s guarantee and Modi’s guarantee is final.”
He said for the first time in 70-years, J&K will see Lok Sabha polls, where terrorism, stone pelting, bandhs and CFVs are non-issues.
Taking a jibe at the Congress party, PM Modi said he challenges the opposition parties, especially Congress to bring back Article 370. As per news agency, PM Modi, the star campaigner of BJP, didn’t mince words on abrogation of Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and said that this article was a barrier created by political parties like Congress, National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) between people of Jammu and Kashmir and rest of the country.
“The Article 370 was like a wall between J&K and the rest of the country. People of J&K couldn’t even peep out of this wall where the country was going,” he said. “They used to make propaganda that by abrogating Article 370, Jammu and Kashmir will burn and it will go out of hands. But the youth of Jammu and Kashmir have shown them the mirror.”
He said that now when these parties have nothing else to show these parties visit other states and ask them what benefit they have got after abrogation of this Article. “Ask women of J&K how their rights have been given back. Ask Dalits and Valmikis who have got rights ensured in the Constitution which were not there till abrogation of this article,” the PM thundered from the stage.
Since the announcement of Parliamentary elections, this was the first election rally of the PM in Jammu and Kashmir and he sought votes from people for Dr. Jitendra Singh from Udhampur-Doda seat and for Jugal Kishore Sharma for Jammu seat.
He was critical of opposition parties and tried to hit them left-right and centre. Maintaining that his vision is Viksit Bharat (developed India) and Viksit Jammu and Kashmir (developed Jammu and Kashmir, Modi said, “But Congress, NC and PDP want to take J & K back to the old days. These parties are run by particular families and no one has damaged Jammu and Kashmir as much as they have.”
“Political parties here meant–off the family, by the family and for the family,” the PM alleged.
The PM said that J&K has got rid of terrorism, separatism and stone throwing and no more youth of the valley are getting attracted to this menace. “Since 2014 a strong dent has been given to terrorism and separatism and these are no more issues during these elections. Earlier, conducting the Vasihno Devi and Amarnath yatra peacefully used to be a big task and when one day of yatra was passing peacefully, people were thinking how to make it peaceful the next day. Now, we have tightened the noose around terrorists and separatists during the past 10 years and the next five years will see new heights of development,” Modi said.
“Earlier, if a child used to be out of home for three to four days, his mother used to get tense when he was gone. Whether her son has joined them (militants) or gone somewhere else. But now, they are sleeping peacefully and their children only think of development,” the PM said.
He said: “Earlier, families of soldiers used to be worried about their loved ones when stones were thrown on them. But now, this has become a thing of the past and no more stone throwing is occurring.”
The PM said: “No more schools are burnt, instead they are lit up to celebrate. Now, you have IITs, IIMs, tunnels, expressways, train services and tourists are coming here in record numbers. This was the dream of every generation of J&K and this is my guarantee that this dream of yours is my pledge. My every minute is yours and for my country,” he said.
He said that this election is not to elect MPs but to elect a strong government which could work for the people and the country even in toughest challenges. “During my speech here in 2014, I was assured of addressing the issues pending for the last few years and I did that. Today poor shouldn’t be worried about two-time meals. Lakhs of families are being provided free ration for the next five years. Rs five lakh free treatment is being provided to people. Till 2014, many areas were without water, electricity and roads but today 75 percent households have water through pipes and everything is on their doorsteps. Mobile towers have been constructed everywhere to provide digital connectivity,” the PM said. He also talked about Shahpur Kandi barrage through which farmers of Kathua and Samba districts are getting water for agriculture purposes. “During weak government of the Congress party it kept hanging in balance. Fields were without water and villages were without electricity. But completing this project, these things have been addressed.
He said that people of J&K have seen the worst days before but development being done on the ground for the last 10 years has brought up smiles on their faces. “This is just a trailer and I have new plans for J&K which will take it to new heights of development,” Modi said.
The PM announced that time is not far when Assembly elections will be held in Jammu and Kashmir and statehood will be given back. “You will be able to get work from your elected MLAs and ministers and every issue will be addressed quickly. Work on roads and train services will be completed fast. Big companies and factories from within the country and outside will come here. Besides tourism, J&K will be known for sports and startups. By taking this pledge I will have to take J&K forward,” he added.
