JAMMU: Against the backdrop of parties in Kashmir praising the previous NDA government’s initiatives in the Valley, Narendra Modi today promised to carry forward the policies of Atal Bihari Vajpayee to change the “fate” of Kashmir.
“The path shown by Vajpayee – humanity, democracy and Kashmiriyat – we will carry forward,” the BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate said addressing the first “Bharat Vijay Rally” at Hira Nagar near here.
He said that if Vajpayee government had got another five years, it would have changed the face of Kashmir and problems would have ended.
His comments assume significance as mainstream political parties of the state including ruling National Conference and opposition PDP as well as moderate separatist – Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umer Farooq – have, of late, been praising the Vajpayee government for its initiatives relating to Kashmir.
Modi, who paid obeisance at Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine ahead of his address, neither made any reference to Article 370 this time nor replied to the challenge thrown by state Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for discussing it.
This was the second rally being addressed by Modi in Jammu region. He had addressed a rally on December one last year during which he had stirred a controversy by demanding a dialogue on Article 370 which guarantees a special status to the state.
However, after he was challenged by state Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for a discussion on Article 370, both BJP as well as Modi never raked up the issue again.
During today’s rally, retired IPS officer Farooq Khan, who has been in the forefront of anti-militancy operations in Jammu and Kashmir, joined BJP. Referring to the beheading of Indian soldiers by Pakistan armymen and suicide of farmers across the country, Modi said Congress had changed the slogan “Jai jawan, jai kisan (Hail soldier, hail farmer)” of former prime minister Lal Bahadur Shastri to “Mar jawan, mar kisan (Die soldier, die farmer)”.
Congress, he said, was using the bogey of secularism to run away from answering questions posed by people over its work in the last 10 years.
“I say give employment to youth, they say secularism is in danger. I say remove terrorism, they say let’s discuss secularism first… Those who have no answers to questions of 125 cr Indians are using this hollow slogan of secularism to mislead the youth,” he said.
He ridiculed Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi for his comments that Congress is a “thought” and said people can no longer put up with this thought. Congress is in deep thought over where from this ‘chaiwala’ has come, he said, referring to his tea-seller background.
“Isn’t this thought of J&K a thought of Pandit Nehru? Has it benefited J&K? If Sardar Patel’s thought was implemented, it would have benefited the state…,” he said.
Reaching out to refugees from West Pakistan, who can vote in Lok Sabha elections but have been denied citizenship rights, and Kashmiri Pandits, who had to flee the Valley after outbreak of militancy, Modi said he would fight for them.
Illegal Bangladeshi immigrants managed to get voting rights, he said, adding that the West Pakistan refugees, who live and die for the country, have not been given the right to call India their mother.
Modi called upon the youth to support his developmental agenda, asking them if they wanted to live a life better than their parents.
“You will have to trust me. I have come here with a mantra to cure all ills and this is development. Development is my plan, development is my work…, it is the medicine for all diseases,” he said.–PTI
Thank You For Your Vote!
Sorry You have Already Voted!
