Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Dec 8: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today that even the militants are now feeling the burden of AK-47 rifle and craving for computers, Android 1 and new dreams and added that he share the pain and agony of the people and would take Jammu and Kashmir to touch new heights of development if BJP was voted to power with absolute majority in the Assembly elections.
Addressing an election rally at Raya Morh in Samba district, Modi said: “we want to give Android 1 and computers in the hands holding AK-47. We want to fulfill their dreams with development and jobs, which have remained invisible in Jammu and Kashmir since last 30 years. We want to build a modern Jammu and Kashmir’’.
Reiterating his charges that the State has been spoiled by the Congress, “Baap-Beta and Baap Beti’’ (a reference to National Conference and PDP), Modi in his 28 minutes address said he wanted to give the people of Jammu and Kashmir a Government free of corruption in which there will be no discrimination and injustice with any region, which has been pursued by the past Governments.
Addressing his fourth election rally in Jammu region at Raya Morh in Samba district, the first three were held at Kishtwar, Udhampur and Poonch, Modi said that the BJP was committed to address all issues of all refugees since 1947 living in Jammu and Kashmir and will ensure that all those displaced people are rehabilitated. He described problems of refugees as “national responsibility’’, which would be addressed by the Government.
In a direct reference to the militants albeit without naming them, Modi said a finger pressed on an Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) is more powerful than the one on an AK-47 trigger.
“The finger pressed on an EVM is more powerful than a finger pressed on the trigger of an AK-47,” Modi said, adding the misguided youth are now feeling the burden of an AK-47 and craving for Android 1, a platform for mobile phones.
“The misguided youth are now feeling burden of 10 kg AK-47. They want to get rid of it. They want to press the button of EVM. We too want to equip them with computers and Android 1 and fulfill their dreams of development and employment,’’ he said.
Paying tribute to the Army personnel who laid down their lives in the recent terror attack, Modi said: “army jawans have laid down their lives for your democracy. Their martyrdom will not go in waste. It should not go in vain”.
He praised the high voter turnout of over 70 per cent in the State and said the people had shown to the world the power of ballot. “Despite the winter conditions, people of J&K have polled 70-71 percent votes and scripted history. I praise the people of J&K for this,” he said.
“You (J&K people) have exercised the right of franchise and shown faith in democracy. Those people who were suppressing you (people of J&K) with bullets, you have defeated the bullets by use of ballots,” he said, adding the finger that presses the trigger of AK-47 takes lives and kill people, but the finger that presses EVM changes the destiny of the country.
He said the entire country is proud of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
“The way you (people of J&K) have defeated the bullets the people of entire country are proud of you. Everybody in the country is praising you. It is a lesson for those people who despite living in an environment of peace, love and family comfort, do not come out to vote,” the Prime Minister said.
“Your power is more than those holding AK-47 rifle so I have come here today to request you to form majority BJP Government in the State and stamp out the dynastic rule of the two families (Abdullahs and Muftis). I assure you that I will repay with interest the love and affection you have bestowed upon me by undertaking development of the State”, the Prime Minister declared amidst cheers, clapping and chanting of `Modi-Modi’ slogans by the huge crowd.
Terming PDP, NC and Congress as beneficiaries of politics of opportunism, Modi alleged that they have neglected the State for decades together and said not it is time for the people to reject these two parties and form the BJP Government in Jammu and Kashmir.
Stating that BJP wants to start a new era of politics— the politics of development —in the State, he invoked the party’s slogan of “sab ka sath, sab ka vikas”.
He said that politics of opportunism must end to undertake development of the State. “For this we have to get rid of dynastic rule of these families and form a Government of BJP with majority in the State, he added.
Charging Congress, National Conference and PDP with spoiling Jammu and Kashmir during past 30 years of rule, he charged the Congress with trying to fool the electorates during the elections.
“If one party forms Government, the Congress takes shelter in their lap. Next time, the second party forms the Government and the Congress sides with them. But, when the elections come, the Congress starts criticizing both the parties. The Congress has been trying to fool the people and deserved to be taught a lesson. Not even a single Congress MLA should be elected this time,’’ he said with as thousands of people at Samba rally endorsed his view point and echoed him with the chanting of ‘Modi- Modi’.
He also hit out at what he called the “dynastic rule” in the State and said that J&K needs a stable Government, which the BJP can provide.
“You have seen the rule of the father and son. You have seen the rule of the father and daughter. Have they done anything for you?” he said in an indirect reference to National Conference and PDP rule.
“There is a need to free Jammu and Kashmir of massive corruption, dynastic rule, casteism and regionalism to make Jammu and Kashmir a model of development,’’ he said, adding his only ‘mantra’ for the State is development and he will pursue it with full vigour. He called upon the people of the State to give the BJP absolute majority and not fractured verdict so that it was in a position to work for welfare and development of the people and equip the youth with employment opportunities.
Modi said that people should vote to form a majority Government rather than “3-legged or four-headed” Government, which will be unable to work and devote time only to save the chair instead of development.
“If a chair has only three legs, it will not be suited for sitting. We need to have four legs chair. Give us absolute majority so that we are able to pursue our agenda—which is only and only development and employment. We want to work for the State. We want to develop the State. We want to take it forward and for this we need your support, Modi said.
Citing example of BJP ruled Madhya Pradesh, where the party has come back to power for third time in a row, the Prime Minister said the State used to be called as ‘Bimaru Rajya’ (ill State) before the BJP formed Government there. “Look at the working of our Chief Minister in MP Shivraj Singh Chouhan. Within few years, he has taken growth rate of agriculture between 15 to 20 per cent because irrigation water was reaching to every field. In Jammu and Kashmir also, we want irrigation water to reach every field, electricity and roads in every village and that can be done only if the BJP has absolute majority,’’ the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister said that the youth of the State needs employment and development, which only BJP can give.
“Here the Governments for the last 30 years have done nothing for betterment of the people. There were no jobs for the youth. Jammu and Kashmir can generate electricity required for the entire country. But for this, the State Government needs will power, which were lacked by the Governments voted to power by the people for last 30 years,’’ Modi said and called upon the jubilant crowd to vote this time a BJP Government.
Referring to the issue of refugees of PoK and other displaced people in Jammu and Kashmir, Modi said that it is the country’s responsibility to rehabilitate them and give them full rights.
Promising to mitigate the problems of 12 lakh displaced people in the State, he said that for 60 years they have not been given their rights. “Is it the crime of refugees that they speak ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’. We will rehabilitate them. It is responsibility of the country,’’ he declared.
“I assure you from this stage that all problems of all refugees, who had been living in Jammu and Kashmir since independence will be addressed by the Government. We are committed to address problems of all refugees, who had to leave their houses from time to time. We will ensure that their all issues are resolved’’ Modi said.
Asserting that the people of Jammu and Kashmir didn’t ask for bungalows, cars, gold or diamond but only craved for development and jobs, the Prime Minister said it was his commitment to the people of the State that they would get jobs, irrigation water in the fields, education facilities for students, two times food and medicines for elders.
“Whether this is responsibility of the Government to provide such basic necessities to the people or not’’? he asked the crowd, which responded by a loud ‘yes’’. “Whether the Government, which even failed to provide such facilities to the people deserved to be ousted or not,’’ he asked and got another loud ‘yes’ as the public response.
He said since Congress, NC and PDP have ruled the State for last 30 years, they have failed the people of Jammu and Kashmir. “You have experiences them but they always betrayed your trust. So don’t trust them anymore and give absolute majority to the BJP,’’ he added.
Invoking the issue of discrimination with Jammu region, Modi said no Government can run by doing discrimination and injustice with people and the regions. “Every region must get justice and that is why we have given the slogan of ‘sab ka saath, sab ka vikaas’. We will do justice with all regions,’’ he added.
He said successive Governments have done discrimination with Jammu region but BJP will do justice with all three regions.
Modi said the pain and problems of the people of Jammu and Kashmir were his problems and he was well aware of them. “As Pradhan Sewak’ of the people, I will try to solve your all problems,’’ he added. He reiterated that his love for Jammu and Kashmir can be well gauged from the fact that he has been visiting the State ever month since July.
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