Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Sept 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the on the Congress, National Conference, and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) saying that their dynastic politics has “hollowed” Jammu and Kashmir and said the coming elections would decide the fate of the union territory for ever.
Addressing an election rally in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district for the upcoming assembly polls, Mr Modi also had a veiled dig at Rahul Gandhi over his ‘Mohabbat ki dukaan’ pitch, even as he slammed Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s remarks that BJP leaders would have been in jail had the Opposition alliance won 20 more seats in the Lok Sabha polls. Recalling the recent incident in the United States where an Indian journalist was allegedly assaulted by Rahul Gandhi’s team, Mr Modi slammed the Congress for selling ‘Nafrat (Hatred) in ‘Mohabbat Ki Dukaan (Shop of Love).’
Expressing strong objections against Mr Kharge’s remarks during an address at Anannag recently, Mr Modi asked the Congress whether they wanted to form a government at the Centre to put people in jail or to work for the people. “We run the government for the welfare of the people. When they (Congress) don’t have any agenda they just want to send people to jail.”
Addressing a rally in Anantnag, Mr Kharge had ignited a political firestorm by saying, “If Congress had won 20 more seats, then they all would have been jailed.” Kharge also mentioned the importance of the alliance and urged the supporters to be unafraid of the BJP. He had also appealed to the party supporters to fight together and not blame each other.
“This time the elections of Jammu and Kashmir are going to decide the fate of J&K. Since independence, our beloved J&K has been targeted by foreign powers. After that, ‘pariwarwad’ (dynastic politics) started hollowing this beautiful state. The political parties you trusted here did not care about your children. Those political parties only promoted their children,” he said.
National Conference was quick to catch PM Modi’s criticism of the party and said when the BJP needed help from their families (Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti), then they were not held responsible for the destruction of J&K. “They found nothing wrong in PDP when were in an alliance with PDP in J&K… They can find everything wrong with us during elections… Tomorrow if BJP falls short of numbers, and PDP decides to help them, they will again find nothing wrong with the PDP. It’s all a matter of time,” said National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah while speaking to reporters after Mr Modi’s rally.
Claiming that terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir was “in its last stage,” Mr Modi said “These elections are going to decide the fate of J&K. Since Independence, our J&K has been targeted by foreign powers. Terrorism is now counting its last days in J&K. The upcoming elections will decide the UT’s future.”
On Statehood, the PM said only BJP would restore it to J&K. “We are committed to make J&K a terror-free region and a paradise for tourists. J&K will be a global film destination and there will be a direct train from Delhi to Srinagar soon,” Mr Modi said.
Targeting the Gandhis, the Abdullahs and the Muftis, PM Modi said the politics of dynasts “hollowed out and destroyed J&K”. “These parties promoted separatism and terrorism in J&K for the past seven decades only to keep their shops running. They provided a safe haven for the propagation of terrorism for personal gains. They only promoted their own kith and kin,” the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister also targeted the manifestoes of the NC, Congress and PDP in his speech. “Voters have to choose between BJP’s ‘Sankalp Patra’ and these parties’ manifestos, advocating return of the old bad days. The manifestoes call for the return of Article 370 and roll back of reservations to Paharis, Gujars and Bakerwals. Also, advocates snatching the voting rights of Valmikis and Dalits,” Mr Modi said.
He described the upcoming elections in J&K as one where “the dynasts are pitted against the youth with high aspirations and dreams of J&K”. “’Pariwarwad’ has not allowed the youth to come forward. After coming to power in 2014, I have tried to bring forward the new leadership of the youth in J&K.”
Praising party workers who drove from parts of Ramban and Kishtwar districts to Doda, PM Modi said his party conducted first Panchayat elections since 2000 as the NC, PDP and Congress failed to hold them. “The BJP government ensured democracy reaches to the grassroots level, as Block Develop Council and District Development Council elections were also held for the first time…Together we will build a safe and prosperous J&K and this is Modi’s guarantee,” he added.
He said those youth who threw stones at police and security forces were aspiring big in life now. “Stones are being used to construct new big buildings,” the PM said. He urged supporters to make the BJP candidates “win with a huge mandate”. “This will ensure a brighter future for everyone in the Valley. Any citizen of Jammu and Kashmir, regardless of his religion, region and cultural affiliation, is a priority for the BJP government,” he added.