Fight between 3 dynastic parties, youth of J&K: PM Modi

Jammu, Sep 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday stated that the ensuing assembly election was a fight between three dynastic parties and the youth of J&K.

He said that while BJP talked of progressive, peaceful J&K, their (dynastic parties’) manifestoes guaranteed return of terrorism, separatism and scrapping of reservation as they followed deceitful politics to take J&K back into the regressive era.

He asserted that even statehood would be granted by the BJP government only.

“On the one side, there are three families and on the other side, there are daughters and sons of J&K, brimming with youthful spirits, aspirations and dreams of better future in their eyes. These three families are leading Congress, National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). What a trio of these dynasts has done to you - is nothing less than a sin. These three families are responsible for ruining J&K during the last several decades,” PM Modi said, while addressing a massive rally at Sports Stadium in Doda.

This was his maiden election rally in J&K assembly elections 2024, aimed at giving a blitzkrieg effect to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s poll campaign in Chenab valley, going to polls in the first phase.

Union Minister and J&K Election In-charge Kishan G Reddy; BJP National General Secretary and In-Charge J&K Affairs Tarun Chugh; J&K Election In-charge Ram Madhav and Union Minister of State in PMO and MP Doda-Udhampur-Kathua Dr Jitendra Singh accompanied the Prime Minister on the dais.

In a scathing attack on the trio (Congress, NC and PDP), he stated, “They promoted corruption, encouraged gangs of land grabbers and made you suffer even for basic amenities. Government jobs were provided to only those who were favourites of these three families. The trio prepared a fertile ground for the propagation of separatism and terrorism.”

He said that it ultimately benefitted the enemies of the country only.

“They (trio) had been propagating terrorism only to ensure that their shop(s), minting billions and trillions of money, would continue to flourish. We lost thousands of our youth here because of their (dynastic parties’) sins. This Chanderbhaga (Chenab) valley has been a mute witness to an era of death and destruction that spanned several years. Just remember those days, when dusks here (in Chenab Valley) would be marked by undeclared curfew, bringing all shops, business establishments to a halt,” he recalled.

CHANGING J&K: FROM SHINDE’S FEAR TO PRESENT ERA OF DECLINING TERRORISM

Taking another barb at his party’s bête noire Congress, the Prime Minister even referred to the recent statement of former Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, to substantiate his point vis-à-vis dismal security situation a decade or two ago.

“Situation had reached to the extent that the then Union Home Minister during Congress (UPA) regime was afraid to visit Lal Chowk (in Srinagar). But now the terrorism in J&K is breathing its last. In the last ten years, the transformational change, J&K has witnessed, is nothing less than a dream. The stones, which once used to be pelted on the Police and the Army personnel, are now being used to build new Jammu and Kashmir,” PM Modi said.

BJP’S RESOLVES WITH A TRACK-RECORD OF WALKING THE TALK

Asserting that revolutionary change was brought by the people of J&K and not Modi, PM stated that taking forward their faith and belief in it (party), J&K BJP had taken resolutions for their (people’s) welfare.

“Today we paid tributes to Pandit Tika Lal Taploo, who was killed by terrorists over three decades ago, on this day, initiating an endless cycle of atrocities against Kashmiri Pandits (KPs). It was BJP, which raised voice in favour of KPs and worked to serve their interests,” he said and greeted J&K BJP for announcing a scheme named after Taplu for return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri Hindus.

“This will expedite the process to restore rights of Kashmiri Hindus, snatched from them. BJP has also resolved to issue a White Paper to ensure justice to all victims of terrorism. BJP is a party which does not make fake, hollow promises. It (BJP) has a track-record that it walks its talk,” he said.

SHAGUN PARIHAR DEPICTS BJP’S RESOLVE TO END TERRORISM

PM Modi stated that party candidate from Kishtwar, Shagun Parihar was a victim of terrorism. “Her father and uncle were killed by terrorists. BJP gave the ticket to her. She is not just a candidate but is a live example of the party's (BJP’s) unflinching resolve to wipe out terrorism from J&K,” he said.

Those political parties which ruled J&K did nothing for its people.

“You have to struggle, agitate and face batons of the Police to get your even small demands for school, road, water tank etc., conceded.  Medical and Engineering colleges were too big a dream. Think over it as to why you were deprived of all this. Political parties, which you trusted and voted to power, never considered you your own. They only used you as a stepping stone or a staircase to power. But Modi bothers about you and the future of your children,” he said.

He said that he wanted to see all the children, youth of J&K progressing hence his government focussed on opening numerous schools, colleges, including professional institutes. PM Modi said that Doda Medical College, which was being demanded by people for decades, was completed by his government.

“Now J&K students don’t have to go outside for higher or professional studies as the government has established AIIMS, IIT, IIM etc., besides medical and engineering colleges. J&K BJP has also announced Pandit Prem Nath Dogra Rozgar Yojana (employment scheme) to create new employment opportunities. J&K BJP government, if came to power, will also provide travel allowance to youth. (J&K) BJP government, when elected to power, will work to build “terror-free” J&K, which will be a heaven for tourists,” PM Modi assured.

ASSEMBLY ELECTION 2024 TO DECIDE J&K’S FATE

Delineating the assembly election’s significance, the PM said, “This assembly election of J&K will decide its fate. Immediately after independence, our beloved J&K became a target of (conspiracies) of foreign powers. Following it, dynastic rule started hollowing out our beautiful J&K. After that the political parties, which you trusted, did not bother about your children. They (parties) only promoted the interests of their own children. While the terrorism took a toll on our youth of J&K, these parties, promoting dynastic rule, kept on enjoying power and pelf by deceiving you (J&K people).”

He alleged that the dynasts (leaders) in J&K never allowed the young leadership to grow anywhere. He reminded that Panchayat elections in J&K were not conducted after 2000 while elections of BDCs (Block Development Councils) and District Development Councils (DDC) were never conducted. “For decades together, the dynastic rule did not allow talented youth of J&K to lead and flourish. That’s why after coming to power in 2014; I tried to bring new leadership of J&K youth to the fore. In 2018, Panchayat elections were conducted followed by BDCs’ elections in 2019,” he said.

“In 2020, DDCs’ elections were held for the first time here to take democracy to the grass root in J&K so that the young leaders could come forward to take over reins of democracy here. This was my effort and we challenged these dynastic parties, which never wanted J&K youth to enter politics and defeated their nefarious designs. Result was after Local Bodies’ polls, J&K saw emergence of 30,000-35,000 youth leaders in politics and took over its (J&K’s) reins,” PM Modi stated.

He said, “During the past few years, J&K has been witnessing a new era of development and the credit for this goes to the new young leaders. I salute this courage, determination of J&K youth, both daughters and sons, brimming with exuberance.”

He stated that a new ‘Film Policy’ was put in place to restore J&K its enviable position of a favourite destination for filmmakers from all parts of India and abroad. This was heartening to note that J&K witnessed a boom in tourism, leading to opening of new hotels, restaurants in different parts of Union Territory, including Bhaderwah, he said.

While mentioning Chenani-Nashri and Banihal-Qazigund tunnels, PM stated that the government was also focussing on improving connectivity by constructing new roads, bridges and flyovers.

Earlier, it would take around five hours to reach Banihal from Jammu and six to eight hours from Jammu to Srinagar. “Now it takes only three hours to reach Banihal and five hours to reach Srinagar from Jammu. We are focussing on enhancing rail connectivity also. Very soon, the train will chug from Delhi to reach Srinagar via Banihal. Train trials have already begun to realise the dream of “Train from Kashmir to Kanyakumari”. Our objective is all-round development of J&K and welfare of its people,” PM Modi stated, while enlisting “Sankalps” (resolutions) of BJP, mentioned in its manifesto.

He referred to “Purple revolution” in Chenab valley, while talking about measures taken for welfare of farmers in J&K.

At the outset, PM enquired about the well being of massive gathering in the local dialect and paid his obeisance to local deities viz., Machail Mata and Sarthal Mata.

“You would have traversed long distances from different parts of Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban to reach here and attend this rally and still you (people) are not showing any signs of fatigue. Rather I can see exuberant faces all around. I can see mothers, sisters and daughters present here in a large number to bless us. I’m overwhelmed and grateful to you for it. I promise you to repay your love and blessings, two to three-folds in measure, by working harder for you and the entire country. We all - you and me, will work in tandem to build a safe and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir and this is Modi’s guarantee,” he said.

All eight candidates of party contesting from three districts of Chenab Valley viz., Daleep Singh Parihar from Bhaderwah, Gajay Singh Rana from Doda and Shakti Parihar from Doda West in Doda district; Sunil Sharma from Padder Nagseni, Shagun Parihar from Kishtwar and Tariq Keen from Inderwal in Kishtwar district and Salim Bhat from Banihal and Rakesh Singh Thakur from Ramban constituencies of Ramban district, too shared the dais with the PM.

All these eight constituencies of Chenab valley in Jammu region are going to polls in the first phase

Earlier, J&K BJP General Secretary (organisation) Ashok Koul and newly appointed J&K BJP Working President Sat Sharma felicitated the Prime Minister by presenting him a shawl.

Sat Sharma hoped that the party would win all eight seats from the sub-region.