People of Kashmir strengthening country’s democracy: PM Modi

Srinagar, Sep 19: A day after the first phase of the Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed an election rally in Srinagar on Thursday stating that the people of Kashmir were strengthening Indian democracy.

Starting his address by greeting the people in the Kashmiri language, PM Modi said: “We want to develop Kashmir at a fast pace and I have come with this message.”

He urged the people of J&K to vote in large numbers in the ongoing assembly polls.

The PM said that the elections mark a historic shift, and praised the unprecedented participation witnessed in the first phase, underscoring that it was conducted without fear or intimidation from terrorism.

“It’s a festival of democracy,” he said, commending the people for turning out in significant numbers, including both the young and the elderly.

At the rally in support of BJP candidates at Srinagar’s Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium, PM Modi said that the BJP would fulfil its promise of restoration of J&K’s statehood.

“We have promised in the Parliament that we will restore J&K’s statehood. The BJP will fulfil this commitment,” he said.

The PM said that the people of J&K were setting new voting records, a testament to their renewed aspirations and commitment to democracy.

“You have scripted this history,” he said. “The world is witnessing how the people of J&K are strengthening India’s democratic values.”

Targeting political rivals, including the Congress, National Conference (NC), and People’s Democratic Party (PDP), PM Modi accused them of fuelling division and holding back J&K’s progress for decades.

He said that these “three families” had long manipulated the people to serve their interests, depriving them of their rightful opportunities and keeping the youth in a state of despair.

The PM recalled how, under their rule, young people were driven away from education, with stones placed in their hands instead of pens and books.

He reiterated his commitment to providing employment opportunities for the youth of J&K, vowing not to allow another generation to be destroyed by the influence of what he termed as self-serving political dynasties.

“Schools and colleges are running smoothly throughout J&K. Children have pens, books, and laptops in their hands,” PM Modi said, stressing that education and peace had been restored in J&K.

Reflecting on the cultural and social shifts, he lamented how religious sites and places of cultural significance were once unsafe, while film shootings and cinemas had come to a halt.

The PM recalled the peril associated with unfurling the national flag at Srinagar’s Lal Chowk, a once-dangerous gesture that now stands as a symbol of J&K’s transformation.

He also highlighted the plight of Kashmiri Pandits, blaming the politics of the Congress, NC, and PDP for their suffering and displacement.

PM Modi pointed out that their oppression, along with the suppression of the Sikh community, was part of a broader agenda to marginalise minority communities in J&K.

He hailed several initiatives undertaken under his leadership, including bringing rail connectivity to J&K and the success of global events like the G20, car races, and International Yoga Day being held in Kashmir.

The PM contrasted the current peace with the violence and frequent shutdowns that once paralysed Kashmir, reminding the audience that the past 35 years saw over 3000 days of shutdowns – something now reduced to zero.

He asked the people to reject a return to the violence and stagnation of the past, urging them to seize the opportunity to shape a future of peace, progress, and unity in J&K.