Doda, September 15
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that the upcoming assembly elections will decide the fate of Jammu and Kashmir in terms of governance and accused major political parties in the state of 'pariwarwad'.
Addressing his first rally for the assembly elections, he also said that terrorism was taking "its last breath" in Jammu and Kashmir and the change that has come in the last 10 years is no less than a dream.
The stones that were pelted are now being used to create a new Jammu and Kashmir, he said.
The Prime Minister said "pariwarwad' did not allow the youth to come forward and he has tried to bring forward a new leadership in Jammu and Kashmir."
"This time the elections are going to decide the fate of Jammu and Kashmir. Since independence, our beloved J-K has been targeted by foreign powers. After this, 'pariwarwad' started hollowing this beautiful state. The political parties you trusted here did not care about your children. Those political parties only promoted their children," he said.
"The youth of J-K has been suffering from terrorism and the parties promoting 'pariwarwad' were having fun by misleading you. These people have never allowed new leaders to emerge anywhere in J-K. You also know that panchayat elections were not held here after 2000," he added.
He referred to panchayat elections in 2018, BDC elections in 2019 followed by DDC elections.
"Why were these elections held? So that democracy reaches the grassroots level in Jammu and Kashmir," he said.
The Prime Minister referred to the remarks by former Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde in which he said in a light-hearted manner that he was scared during visits to Lal Chowk.
"There was a time when there used to be an undeclared curfew after evening. The situation was such that the Union Home Minister used to be scared to visit Lal Chowk," PM Modi said.
The Prime Minister further said that he wants every child in Jammu and Kashmir to have access to a good education.
"Over the past few years, the BJP government has inaugurated various schools and colleges in J-K for the betterment of the youth. The long-standing demand for a medical college in Doda was also fulfilled recently by the BJP government," he said.
"Make our candidates win with a huge mandate and ensure a brighter future for everyone in the valley. Any resident of Jammu and Kashmir, regardless of his religion, region and cultural affiliation, is a priority for the BJP government. I guarantee to safeguard your rights. It's only the BJP that can reinforce statehood to Jammu and Kashmir," he added.
Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir are scheduled for September 18, September 25, and October 1. Votes will be counted on October 8.