Narendra Modi in Srinagar highlights: J&K statehood will be restored, says PM

Asking people to cast their votes wisely in the ongoing Assembly polls that are linked to the “future of Jammu and Kashmir”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday (September 19, 2024) that they should ensure the political sunset of the Congress, National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which have “inflicted wounds” in the region for years together.

Addressing a poll rally in Katra, the base camp for the pilgrims visiting the Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district, PM Modi also accused the Congress leadership of insulting Hindu gods and goddesses under a “well-thought-out conspiracy” and due to a “Naxal mindset”, and asked people “should they not be punished for this”? 

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PM Modi calls Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Devta’ remark a sign of ‘Naxal mindset’

Prime Minister Modi urges voters to choose wisely in Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls, aiming to end Congress, NC, PDP rule.

“Statehood will be restored in Jammu and Kashmir. This is our commitment in Parliament, ”says PM Narendra Modi at poll rally in J&K’s Katra.- PTI

NC chief Farooq Abdullah on Thursday (September 19, 2024) hit back at PM Modi saying the release of terrorists in exchange for Rubaiya Sayeed in 1989 and Indian Airlines plane in Afghanistan in 1999 are responsible for the growth of terrorism in the region.

Mr. Abdullah was replying to PM Modi’s speech in an election rally at Srinagar earlier on September 19, accusing the National Conference (NC), Congress and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for “destruction” of Jammu and Kashmir.

The former J&K chief minister said the people should be thankful that the NC was there in 1947 at the time of Partition otherwise the Muslim majority state would have become a part of Pakistan.- PTI

National Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah on Thursday (September 19, 2024) said Prime Minister Narendra Modi remains silent on rising terror incidents in the Jammu region but keeps harping on dynastic politics as he has “nothing else to sell” to the people of the Union Territory.

Reacting to Pakistani Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s remarks on Article 370, Abdullah said Pakistan should manage its own affairs and not interfere in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly polls.

“What else can we expect from the BJP? It cannot talk about anything apart from that because it does not have anything to show from the last five years.

“I do not know what the prime minister said in Srinagar today, but I can say this with a guarantee that he would have spoken about three families,” Abdullah told reporters here when asked about Modi’s attacks on the Congress, NC and People’s Democratic Party (PDP).- PTI

“Congress, NC allowed river waters to flow to Pakistan. We set up dams,” said PM Narendra Modi at poll rally in Jammu and Kashmir’s Katra. He also adds that, this election is about choosing Jammu and Kashmir’s future. - PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid tribute to Jammu and Kashmir’s first Muslim IAS officer Mohammad Shafi Pandit, who died earlier in the day.

Pandit, who retired as chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission in 2009, died at a Delhi hospital while undergoing treatment for cancer.

“I have come to know Kashmir’s pride and first (Muslim) IAS officer Mohammad Shafi Pandit has passed away. He was working for the benefit of society even after retirement. In this hour of grief, we are with his family,” the prime minister said while addressing an election rally.- PTI

The Prime Minister said the situation in Jammu and Kashmir has vastly changed over the last five years which has restored the confidence of youth in a democratic process.

“Remember the conditions in which elections were held earlier. The campaigns would stop by 6 pm. Door-to-door campaigns were impossible. The Congress, NC and PDP -- these three families were happy with it. These people used to make merry by snatching your rights,” he said.

“Today, the campaign happens late in the night. Now, the people are celebrating democracy. Youth have found confidence in democracy again, they feel their vote, their democratic right, can bring change. This hope is the first step towards empowerment,” he added. - PTI

Attacking the Congress, National Conference, and PDP, Modi said these three parties and families have “trampled” democracy and ‘Kashmiryat’ for their own benefits.

“Do you remember what they did in the 1980s? They treated Jammu and Kashmir’s politics as their own fiefdom. They did not want anyone except their families to come forward? Otherwise, why did they stop the Panchayat, DDC and BDC elections? “They knew it would bring new faces who would challenge their family rule. What was the damage as a result of their selfishness? The youth kept losing faith in democracy. They felt whether they vote or not, only these three families will come to power,” he said. - PTI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the youth of Jammu and Kashmir have found confidence in democracy again and are feeling that their vote can bring change, which is the first step towards their empowerment.

Addressing an election rally in support of BJP candidates at the Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium here, Modi said the BJP will fulfil its promise of restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood.

“The youth of my Jammu and Kashmir is no more helpless. He is becoming empowered under the Modi government. I am happy that the J-K BJP has also made huge announcements for the employment of youth. Be it their skill development or providing jobs without manipulation, the BJP will do all these,” he said.- PTI

Reiterating his earlier remarks his government made in Parliament on a “solemn promise” for restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood, Mr. Modi said, “It’s the BJP that will fulfil this commitment. The BJP is for peaceful and prosperous Kashmir,” he said.

Mr. Modi appealed to the voters to come out and vote in record numbers and vote for the BJP in the second phase on September 25.

Indirecting referring to the J&K National Confernce, the Congress and the People’s Democratic Party, Mr. Modi said “These three families want to bring old times back. In the past 35 years, Kashmir remained closed for 3000 days. Since 2019, Kashmir has not been closed even for eight hours. Do you want hartals again?,” Mr. Modi asked the crowed.

“They want to deny marginalised and women their rights, close cinema halls, allow burning of schools,” Mr. Modi added.

Saying it was a matter of pride that people voted in large numbers in first phase of J&K polls, Mr. Modi said previous records (poll percentage) were broken in many seats. 

“A new history has been written by people of Jammu and Kashmir, this shows that aspirations of people have touched new heights,” Mr. Modi said.

“Festival of democracy is going on in Jammu and Kashmir, for the first time voting took place without shadow of terror,” PM Modi said.

“I can see today Kashmiri brothers are saying ‘Khushaamdeed PM’ (welcome PM), I also thank them from bottom of my heart,” Mr. Modi said.

Stressing that he and his government wants Jammu and Kashmir free of terror, Mr. Modi said he wanted to defeat those who conspired against it.

“I will work towards generating employment locally. It’s Modi’s pledge. I will not allow the new generation to suffer under these families. All schools and colleges are functioning normally in J&K unlike the past. Youths have pens and not stones in their hands. We do not hear news of school burning. Instead, we get to hear about construction of AIIMS, IITs etc,” the PM added.

Speaking at the rally Mr. Modi said: “The bumper voting in the first phase of Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections has rejected the parties that sympathise with stone pelting and terrorism. The people here have full faith in Modi’s guarantee of a safe and prosperous Jammu and Kashmir”.

The PM thanked the people who came to attend the rally in Srinagar.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has begun his address at the much-awaited BJP rally in Srinagar, in the venue which is within a kilometre from the iconic Lal Chowk clock. tower.

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Terming ​the upcoming Assembly elections​ as “one that will decide the fate of J&K”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday (September 14, 2024) launched a scathing attack on the Gandhis, the Abdullahs and the Muftis and underscored that “terrorism was in its last stage” in the Union Territory (UT).

“These elections are going to decide the fate of J&K. Since Independence, our J&K has been targeted by foreign powers. Terrorism is now counting its last days in J&K. The upcoming elections will decide the UT’s future,” Mr. Modi, who addressed the first ever election rally in J&K’s Doda, said. ​Read more​

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The second phase, covering 26 seats, is slated for September 25, while the third and final phase, involving 40 seats, is scheduled for October 5. Click here to see the schedule in detail:

Once hotbeds of militancy and street protests, volatile pockets of south Kashmir’s Pulwama, Anantnag, Kulgam and Shopian districts on Wednesday (September 18, 2024) showed a significant shift towards participatory democracy.

The two major local parties Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (NC) and the Jammu & Kashmir People’s Democratic Party (PDP) were the first to release their manifestos, making several similar promises regarding restoring Article 370 and J&K’s statehood, nullifying amended laws since 2019 and ending political incarceration. Read more

Vying for power in the Valley, the major political parties in the poll fray have released their manifestos for the upcoming Jammu-Kashmir (J&K) assembly polls. Promises made by the parties revolve around two contrasting ideas – restoring J&K’s special status or moving forward with further integration (with the Union of India). Read more

The polling for the second and third phases in Jammu and Kashmir will be held on September 25 and October 1, respectively.

On September 18, the first phase of assembly elections was conducted on 24 assembly constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir, including 16 seats in the Kashmir region and eight seats in the Jammu region. A voter turnout of 61.13 pc was registered in the first phase polling.- Read more