Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off the Bharatiya Janata Party’s election campaign in Jammu and Kashmir by addressing a large rally in Doda, where he accused the Abdullah, Mufti, and Gandhi families of ruining the region.
“Terrorism in J&K is nearing its end and the upcoming elections will determine the future of the Union Territory (UT),’’ Modi said. Modi alleged that the National Conference (NC), People's Democratic Party (PDP), and Congress have promoted separatism and terrorism in J&K for the past seven decades to maintain their political influence.
He commended BJP workers who had travelled from Ramban and Kishtwar for the rally, “I really appreciate your great enthusiasm,” he said. Modi said that foreign powers targeted J&K after independence and conspired against the region, while family-run politics further worsened the situation.
He criticised NC, PDP, and Congress for failing to hold Panchayat elections after 2000. "It was the BJP government that brought democracy to the grassroots," he said. “The Block Development Council and District Development Council elections were held for the first time under BJP rule.”
Modi described the upcoming election as a contest between three political families and the youth of J&K, who are pursuing their dreams. “Young people who used to throw stones at security forces are now aiming for bigger goals,” he said. “Stones are now being used to build big structures.”
He also praised Shagun Parihar, the BJP candidate from Kishtwar, whose parents were killed by terrorists. “We gave her a ticket to contest the polls. She is our tool against terrorism,” he said.
Modi assured that BJP is committed to restoring statehood to J&K, making it a terror-free region and a tourist paradise. He added that J&K will soon become a global film destination and that a direct train from Delhi to Srinagar will be operational soon.
Taking a jab at the election manifestos of NC, Congress, and PDP, Modi urged voters to choose BJP’s ‘Sankalp Patra’ over the other parties’ promises, which he claimed, aim to return J&K to its troubled past. He said the other manifestos advocate for the return of Article 370 and a rollback of reservations for Paharis, Gujjars, and Bakerwals. “They also want to take away voting rights from Valmikis and Dalits,” Modi charged.