Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that Pakistan's defence minister Khawaja Asif's comments suggest that the National Conference (NC) and the Congress are following Pakistan's agenda in Jammu and Kashmir.
However, he stressed that as long as the BJP is in power, no force can bring back Article 370 or Article 35A.
"Pakistan's defence minister Khawaja Asif claimed that Pakistan agrees with the NC-Congress alliance on Article 370 and Article 35A," he said while addressing a rally in Katra, Jammu. This was his second rally of the day, following a large gathering in Srinagar.
Modi reiterated that Article 370 and Article 35A are gone forever, and no power can bring them back as long as the BJP is in power.
The prime minister reaffirmed the BJP's commitment to restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, as already promised in Parliament.
He accused the Congress of defaming Maharaja Hari Singh. While the Congress left no stone unturned to defame the Maharaja, the BJP honored him by declaring a holiday on his birthday.
Modi criticised the NC-Congress for treating the Reasi-Kathua region unfairly. "You expressed faith in me, and I gave you the world's highest rail bridge over the Chenab, which is several feet higher than the Eiffel Tower in Paris," he said.
He also noted that the BJP government launched the Vande Bharat Express train from Delhi to Katra, and more facilities have been added to the railway stations in Katra and Reasi.
He said the hydel power projects such as Pakal Dul, Rattley, Kiru, and Kawar are under construction. Modi added that these projects will generate electricity and will provide employment to the youth of Jammu.
"A medical college has been established in Udhampur, and a district hospital has been completed in Reasi district," he said.
Modi highlighted that over 95 lakh devotees visited the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine. "In the coming years, a record number of tourists are expected to visit the region, which will boost livelihood opportunities for the people," he said.
Attacking the Abdullahs, Muftis, and Gandhis, the prime minister accused these parties of allowing water to flow across the border. "They couldn’t construct a dam at Shahpur Kandi," he said. "The BJP built the dam to provide water to hundreds of farmers."
Modi claimed that the Congress promotes "Naxal thinking" and urged caution. "Under this Naxal thinking, Congress attacked the Dogra community in Jammu," he said, accusing the Congress of spreading corruption nationwide and attacking Dogra heritage.
Modi said the Congress spreads "hatred under the guise of love" and urged people to vote against the three political families in large numbers on September 25.