Promises uninterrupted free electricity
SRINAGAR, Sept 19: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today targeted the Abdullahs, Muftis and Gandhis, saying they have brought only fear and anarchy to Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing an election rally in support of BJP candidates at the Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium here, Modi said that the region will no longer remain under the control of these three families as the local youth are now challenging them.
Attacking the Congress, National Conference and People’s Democratic Party (PDP), the PM said these three parties and families have “trampled” democracy and ‘Kashmiriyat’ for their own benefits.
“Do you remember what they did in the 1980s? They treated Jammu and Kashmir’s politics as their own fiefdom. They did not want anyone except their families to come forward? Otherwise, why did they stop the Panchayat, DDC and BDC elections?”
“They knew it would bring new faces who would challenge their family rule. What was the damage as a result of their selfishness? The youth kept losing faith in democracy. They felt whether they vote or not, only these three families will come to power,” he said.
He said that these parties created divisions and asserted that the BJP is uniting everyone and bridging the gap between ‘Dil’ and Delhi.
The PM said the situation in J&K has vastly changed over the last five years which has restored the confidence of youth in a democratic process.
“Remember the conditions in which elections were held earlier. The campaigns would stop by 6 pm. Door-to-door campaigns were impossible. The Congress, NC and PDP – these three families were happy with it. These people used to make merry by snatching your rights,” he said.
“Today, the campaign happens late in the night. Now, the people are celebrating democracy,” he added.
The PM said these three families feel they have a birthright to “rob” the people.
“Their political agenda has been to deprive people of their rights. They have only brought fear and chaos. But, J&K is not going to remain in the grip of these three families. Now, our youth is challenging them. The youth that they did not allow to progress, the same youth is now challenging them,” he said.
Modi said the youths of J&K have found confidence in democracy again and are feeling that their vote can bring change, which is the first step towards their empowerment.
“Youth have found confidence in democracy again, they feel their vote, their democratic right, can bring change. This hope is the first step towards empowerment,” he added.
“The youth of my J&K are no longer helpless. They are becoming empowered under the Modi government. I am happy that the J&K BJP has also made huge announcements for the employment of youth. Be it their skill development or providing jobs without manipulation, the BJP will do all these,” Modi added.
Modi said the Valley had remained shut for 3,000 days during the turmoil.
“What are these family parties doing? They say they will bring back the old times. In the last 35 years, Kashmir was closed for 3,000 days which is eight years of bandhs. In the last five years, Kashmir has not closed even for eight hours.
“Now, tell me, do you want to bring back those old days? Do you want strikes and bloodshed again? Do you want our daughters and OBCs to lose their rights? They want cinema halls closed, they want trade to suffer losses, they want wrongdoings in recruitment,” he added.
The PM made a slew of announcements for the welfare of J&K if the BJP was voted to power. These included the restoration of statehood, Rs 10,000 annual assistance to farmers, Rs 18,000 annual assistance to the woman head of every family, and enhancing the health insurance from the existing Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7 lakh.
Modi said the Central Government is working for providing 24 hours uninterrupted free electricity to J&K. “For this work under the PM free electricity scheme is going on. The central government is giving Rs 80, 000 to every family for rooftop solar plants. Under this scheme every family will save Rs 25000 annually,” he said.
“I have come here with the message of this sentiment. I can see today Kashmiri brothers are saying welcome PM, I also thank them from the bottom of my heart,” he said.
Modi said that for the first time in the last three decades the polls were held without shadow of terror. “Yesterday, seven districts went to polls in the first phase. For the first time, voting took place without the shadow of terror. It is a matter of pride and happiness that people came out to vote in such large numbers,” he said.
“Kishtwar recorded more than 80 per cent (voting), Doda more than 70, Ramban 70, Kulgam more than 60. Many seats saw previous records broken. A new history has been written by you,” he said, as he appealed to the electorate going to polls in the second phase of the polls on September 25 to break all voting records.
The PM said the huge participation of people in the elections shows that their aspirations have touched new heights.
“Today, the world is witnessing how people in J&K are strengthening the democracy in India. For this, I congratulate the people,” he added.
Modi vowed to defeat the powers which are conspiring against J&K, end terror and provide employment opportunities to youth.
“It is the promise of Modi, I will not allow the destruction of J&K. For the restoration of peace, I am making efforts with honesty. You can see schools and colleges are functioning normally across Jammu and Kashmir.
“Youth now have pens and books and laptops, not stones, in their hands. We don’t have news of fire in schools anymore. We now hear news about the setting up of AIIMS, IIT and other intuitions,” he said.
He linked the incidents of violence to the previous governments of the Congress, NC and PDP, saying these parties “sold hatred in their political shops”.
” The schools were burned in Kashmir with the fire sold at their shops. No new schools were built. No academic activity took place for months together in the schools, colleges which were spared during this period,” he said, adding “for their own benefit, these families destroyed the future of our youth”.
Modi said Kashmiri Pandits who had made a lot of contribution for the nation building were not spared by these three families and they were forced to leave Kashmir. He said Sikhs too faced the wrath as these families created hatred. “BJP is uniting people once again by reducing Dil Aur Dil Ki Doori”, he said.
He said BJP in its manifesto has declared that it will bring a while paper on those who were affected by terror and give justice to terror victims. “These people suffered a lot, he said, adding my Government announced a special package for their rehabilitation under Tika Lal Taploo Visthapit Samaj Punarvas Yojna,”. (Daily Excelsior)