Time to turn J&K into a paradise, says Modi
MAHARASHTRA RALLY On Ayodhya, PM says have faith in the judicial system
› We had promised that we will make new efforts to curb problems in J&K and Ladakh... Today I can say with satisfaction that the country has started walking towards fulfilling those dreams.
› I am amazed at the loudmouths on the Ram Mandir issue... I want to tell these people with folded hands to have faith in the judicial system. NARENDRA MODI, Prime Minister
MUMBAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday launched the Bharatiya Janata Party’s campaign for the Maharashtra assembly elections in Nashik by calling for the making of a new Kashmir and the creation of a ”new paradise” in the Valley after the effective revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) last month,
Modi also rebuked “loudmouths”, in an apparent reference to the Shiv Sena, for making comments about the Ram temple issue before the Supreme Court rules on it. “Earlier, we were raising slogans that ‘Kashmir is ours’. Now, our slogan should be Kashmir ‘banana hai’, we must make a new Kashmir. We must create paradise there again. We must hug every Kashmiri. All 1.3 billion Indians must work in this direction,” Modi said at a public meeting in Nashik.
Modi’s speech made it clear that Kashmir will be at the top of the electoral campaign narrative leading up to the assembly elections later this year in Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand, where the BJP is seeking re-election. In August, the government nullified Article 370, which conferred special status on J&K, and Article 35A, which reserved privileges like government jobs and property ownership for people deemed to be permanent residents, and divided the state into two Union territories — J&K and Ladakh.
The decision to nullify Article 370 was to strengthen the unity of India, Modi said. The implementation of the Constitution in its entirety in J&K wasn’t just a government decision, but taken keeping in view the sentiments of India’s 1.3 billion people, he said.
“This decision is going to be the medium of fulfilling the aspirations and dreams of the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
“A lot of efforts are being taken from across the border [in Pakistan] to spread unrest and disbelief and foment violence in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said. “The youth, mothers and sisters in Jammu and Kashmir have made up their mind to come out of the long period of violence. They want development and new job opportunities.”
“We had promised that we will make new efforts to curb the problems in Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. Today, I can say with satisfaction that the country has started walking towards fulfilling those dreams,” he said.
Reacting to Modi’s speech, Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant wrote in a tweet: “Somebody should tell the Prime Minister that it’s Maharashtra’s election and not Kashmir’s. In the last five years, the state debt has doubled, the number of farmers’ suicides have tripled..., and unemployment has increased by nearly ten times and corruption has increased by 100%. Talk about that.”
Modi’s public meeting marked the conclusion of the Mahajanadesh Yatra undertaken by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to highlight the achievements of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-Shiv Sena government that administers Maharashtra. The Prime Minister took an indirect swipe at the Sena, without mentioning the BJP ally by name. “I am amazed at the bayan bahadurs and badbole (loudmouths) on the Ram Mandir issue. Everyone in the country respects the Supreme Court. The apex court is hearing the case. I want to tell these people with folded hands to have faith in the judicial system,” said Modi.