Kathua: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday targeted the Congress and regional parties, including National Conference and Peoples Democratic Party, saying their demand for separating Jammu and Kashmir from India has been exposed like Pakistan’s nuclear threat had been “deflated”.
“Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India,” he said addressing a poll rally here in support of Union minister Jitendra Singh, seeking re-election from the Udhampur seat.
Modi said the BJP is duty-bound to party’s ideologue Shyama Prasad Mukherjee who raised tricolour on this land and scarified his life asserting that “Ek desh mein do vidhan, do pradhan aur do nishan nahi chalenge (a single country cannot have two constitutions, two prime ministers, and two national emblems)”.
“In the recent past, you saw how ‘mahamilawat’ of the Congress, the National Conference and the PDP got exposed. What was in their hearts for decades and for which they were working clandestinely has come out in the open.
“Everyday they are threatening to separate Jammu and Kashmir from India, talking about bloodshed and a separate prime minister. Earlier, Pakistan also used to warn India of its nuclear weapons but it was deflated,” Modi said.
The prime minister raised the issue of surgical strike and airstrikes, and questioned the Congress for doubting the capability of the Indian Army. He accused it of demoralising security forces by seeking revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) and their withdrawal from the state.
Modi accused NC and PDP leadership of causing destruction in Jammu and Kashmir and said the key for the state’s brighter future lay in removing these two families from power.
“I want to tell those who have occupied the seat of power for the last three generations, including Abdullahs and Muftis, that it is ‘Modi jo na bikta hai, na darta hai aur na jukta hai’ (Modi is not for sale, is not afraid and not ready to bow).
“Bring all your family members on field and abuse Modi as much you want but you will not be able to disintegrate the country. Shyama Prasad’s ideology is ‘wachan patra’ (pledge) for us and it is carved in stone which cannot be removed by anyone,” Modi said.
He said this was the BJP’s commitment and the nation’s chowkidar (watchman) is connected to this ideology as well. “The Congress and its alliance partners can do their best but they will find Modi standing before them like a wall,” he said.
Amid chants of ‘Modi Modi’, the PM, in his over 38-minute speech, targeted the Congress, the NC and the PDP, saying the parties continuing family rule have not inherited Jammu and Kashmir.
“The founder of our Constitution (B R Ambedkar) made it clear, during his address in Punjab way back, that family rule is the biggest enemy of the country. Today is his birth anniversary and the real tribute to him is to vote against the parties following family rule,” he said.
He said Mukherjee, supported by local leader Prem Nath Dogra, challenged anti-national forces and asserted that a single country cannot have two constitutions, two prime ministers, and two national emblems, he said.
Modi, who started his speech in Dogri, said the heavy turnout of voters in the first phase of elections on April 11 in Jammu and Baramulla constituencies is a “setback to terrorists, their mentors and those parties championing their cause”.
“I visited the entire country after starting rallies last month and witnessed an intense wave in favour of the BJP. Surveys by various agencies also make it clear that the BJP will get three times higher seats than the Congress in this poll and it is not possible for the Congress to save itself,” he said.
“The Congress stopped the armed forces from taking tough measures against terrorists. They were apprehensive that if they give a go-ahead and a situation like 1962 emerges, the Congress’s boat will sink.”
He claimed the Congress never understood the strength and capability of the Army. “We used the force for national security but for the Congress, the Army is just an instrument for minting money,” he alleged.
He alleged the party got “malai” (kickbacks) for defence deals and it was least concerned about the forces.
He claimed that even today the Congress is raising questions on surgical and airstrikes to shield its failure to act and to save their vote-bank.
“India had never emerged as a strong country at global level, but the situation has changed. The days are gone when Indian government was cowed down by threats. This is a new India and we will kill terrorists (in their safe heavens) and expose people (supporting them),” Modi said.
Prime Minister said he is committed to resettle Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley and to provide citizenship rights to Pakistan-administered-Kashmir and West Pakistani refugees who settled in Jammu and Kashmir after migrating from across the border decades ago.
He blamed the Congress for the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley and said it would never be able to provide justice to the community and the victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.
“It is due to Congress’s policies that my Kashmiri Pandit brothers and sisters had to leave their homes. The party and its allies witnessed the atrocities committed against Pandits but they paid no heed,” the prime minister said.
Modi said that even today, the Congress is reluctant to speak on the issue of Pandits but “this chowkidar is promise-bound to resettle them on their land. This process has already been started”.
Similarly, Modi said, his government has started the process of providing citizenship rights to refugees from Pakistan-administered-Kashmir (PaK) and Pakistan who were compelled by circumstances to come here post-Independence.
“We are making continuous efforts to provide them citizenship. On May 23, when election results are announced and once again the Modi government comes to power, efforts will be restarted to pass the citizenship act,” the prime minister said.
Accusing the Congress of injustice against people of the country over 60 years, he asked whether the party would be able to give justice to the Kashmiri Pandits and the victims of 1984 Sikh riots.
“It is the party which is parroting (demand for) justice, but it is only to deceive the people,” he said alleging that “generation after generation, it deceived the people in the name of justice to achieve its political interests”.
Seeking votes for the party, Modi said the chowkidar was making sincere efforts for the people’s security and prosperity, while maintaining honour and dignity.
“Your vote in 2014 paved the way for reservation for border residents, 10 percent quota for poor families in education and government services, besides uplifting the standard of living of poor families who got their own house, toilets, free LPG and electricity connections,” he said.
The prime minister said the votes in favour of the BJP also ensured direct transfer of Rs 75 crore to the accounts of 12 crore farmer families annually and poor families got medical insurance of Rs five lakh, besides resumption of the stalled work on Shahpur Kandi dam project.
The construction of roads, underground bunkers for border residents, tunnels and bridges, AIIMS, IIT and IIM also gained momentum in the state, he said.
“You vote on April 18 will increase the pace of development works, cause sleepless nights for some people across the border and will also strengthen Modi,” he said.
He said it was not just an election for members of Parliament, but the people would also approve a ‘Naya Bharat’ and ‘Nayi Neeti’ (new policies).
The prime minister also asked them to pledge to perform the duties of chowkidar against corruption and black money.
He sought their support for taking tough action against anti-national elements, for a final assault on terrorism, to defeat family rule, push infiltrators out of the country, for action against deserters who looted the country and to demolish the wall of hatred.
