PM Modi avoids talks about Pakistan while seeking 'decisive' mandate for BJP from Kashmiris

Srinagar: Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, on Monday sought a decisive mandate for his BJP party from the people of Jammu and Kashmir to take the Himalayan state to the ‘heights of development.’

“The people of the state have suffered enormously during past 30 years for varied reasons including corruption, lack of development, unemployment apart from terrorism and violence and I promise today I will take them out of this jumble forever,” said Modi.

In an obvious reference to last week’s deadly militant attacks that killed 11 security personnel and two civilians in the Valley, the Prime Minister said a finger pressed on an EVM is more powerful than the one on an AK-47 trigger.

While speaking at an impressive election rally at Sher-i-Kashmir Cricket Stadium here under tight security, he, however, evaded to bring into talk  Pakistan or its alleged role in recent terror strikes but said he doesn't want any mother should lose her son to violence anymore. He said, “After taking over a  Chief Minister of Gujarat I went to Kutch, a Muslim majority region, to assess the losses caused by 2001 earthquake. The survivors told me that whenever a politician or a government leader visits them he only talks about Pakistan and ignores the plight of the local population. I promised them I will only talk and care about their needs and not Pakistan.”

“Today Kutch is witnessing fastest growth in the country. Likewise, I would only talk about the plight of the people of Kashmir, how to get them rid of their misery, put an end to corrupt and corrupt practices in vogue here for decades and how to ensure balanced development of the state’s all regions and how to bring it back on the rails,” Modi added.

Referring to the recent SAARC Summit held in Kathmandu, the Prime Minister said that he had there also spoken about how to fight against poverty, unemployment and corruption in the region and urged "our neighbours to join hands to take our countries to the heights of vikas (development)." 

Modi reiterated that he had deep affection for Kashmir and its people and once again pledged to address the issues confronting it within the framework of ‘democracy, humanity and Kashmiriyat’-the ethno-national and social consciousness and cultural values of the Kashmiri people-as was envisaged by legendary BJP leader and former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

“Ataj Behari Vajpayee made a good beginning on Kashmir. He spoke about ‘Insaniyat, Jumhooriyat and Kashmiriyat’. I will take the resolve forward and ensure the dream he saw is realised in letter and spirit. I consider it my duty and have actually made it my motto,” he said. He also said that like Mr. Vajpayee there is special place in his heart for the people of Kashmir. “In fact, I will never forget the love my brothers and sisters in Kashmir have given to me. I will return it with interest through development,” he pledged.

The Prime Minister said all the people of Kashmir Valley wanted was development and employment. “The Pashmina (shawls), saffron, Dal Lake and these magnificent valleys would stun the people of entire country who would make it a point to visit this place like Kedarnath and Badrinath, at least, once in their lifetime which in turn would provide employment to local people and they would not have to go outside to earn their livelihood,” he said. He promised to make serious efforts towards creating similar conditions on ground and do much more for invigorating tourism in Kashmir. He reiterated, “Noting that the fastest growing industry in the world today is tourism industry so I’ve to bring back tourism to the state and I’ve to make Kashmir the ultimate tourist destination in the world.”

He said, “After taking over Prime Minister, I have visited the state every month. I will come here again and again, not to seek any favours from you but to share your pain, sufferings and grief as that would make you feel contented.”

Earlier while speaking at a BJP rally at Vijapur in Jammu’s Samba district, the Prime Minister accused the successive State governments of being corrupt saying, “The Congress has ruled the state, so have the father-son duo (Farooq Abdullah and Omar Abdullah) and the father-daughter duo (Mufti Muhammad Sayeed and Ms Mehbooba Mufti) but have they been able to improve the lot of the people?” Apart for rebuilding infrastructure and ensuring over all development of Jammu and Kashmir, he promised to seize its water resources to generate electricity “which will illuminate entire country” and the people of the state particularly its unemployed youth will be benefitted from its dividends. At Vijaypur, he while talking about the displaced Kashmiri Pandit said it was the responsibility of the country to ensure that these people returned to their homes in the Valley. 

Modi said the people of the state had created history by voting overwhelming in the ongoing elections. “You have reposed full faith in democracy by exercising your vote… you have shown to the world that ballot was more powerful than bullet. “Every countryman feels proud of the people of Jammu and Kashmir because you have strengthened the hands of democratic forces,” he said adding "Wherever in the country I will go particularly at places which are peaceful I will quote your example as to how you have in spite of being in the middle of violence and mayhem come out to vote in huge numbers.".

He also referred to the slaying of Army jawans and local policemen in militant strikes saying, “Their sacrifice would not be allowed to go waste.”  He also said that the people have also faced the brunt of violence like soldiers and policemen. He added that as many as 33,000 policemen have sacrificed their lives while defending their countrymen in India since Independence.

He said it was it was in his government only that, for the first time since the eruption of insurgency, Army has admitted to the killing of two innocent Srinagar youth recently and awarded punishment to the guilty soldiers. He also recalled how Army and other security forces risked their own lives and- in fact, lost a few- while helping the people caught in deluge in September this year.