Jammu and Kashmir rejected bullet, says PM Narendra Modi

SRINAGAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sought a decisive mandate of the people of Jammu and Kashmir for his BJP in the ongoing Assembly elections so that it could form a government of its own.

“You need peace and development to compete with states like Gujarat. I assure you, the BJP if voted to power will bring the state back on the rails and ensure its growth,” he told two separate election rallies in the state’s Udhampur and Poonch districts on Friday.

At Poonch, which is close to the Line of Control, the PM after making the poll pitch and assuring the state of development, concluded his speech with chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”.

He then turned to the audience saying the respond to his slogan of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ must be such that the people on the other side (PoK) should hear it.

Mr Modi while mentioning the work done by him in Gujarat, said “If vikas (development) can take place in Kutch, it can also take place in Poonch” and then reiterated, “Give BJP full majority, I promise you full development.”

He also reiterated that the development of Jammu and Kashmir has been stagnant during the past half a century and leaders here “indulge in corruption and emotional blackmail”.

He said, “If the funds, in the last 50 years, the funds Centre sent to Kashmir would’ve reached the people here, you would’ve been the richest people.”

He alleg4ed, “Corruption, looting and emotional blackmailing has become a habit of politicians in Kashmir whereas development has been stalled in the state particularly for the last 30 years.”

Meanwhile, Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Friday promised that Jammu and Kashmir’s border areas will be given priority in his party’s economic growth plan for the state.

“If the BJP is voted to power, the development of J&K’s border will be the main concern of the new government.”