Katra, Jammu Kashmir:

PM Modi said in the rally in Katra, “This election is to choose the future of Jammu Kashmir. BJP gives priority to you. You must have heard what the virus of Congress party has said after going abroad. They say that our deities are not God… In Hindu religion, there is a tradition of deities in every village. We are people who believe in Ishta Devtas and these Congress people say that deities are not God. Is this not an insult to our deities?”

PM Modi also said, “BJP has ended the discrimination that has been going on with you for decades. You have to set the sun on the political legacy of the three families of Congress, NC and PDP who have wounded this region for years. And for that you have to choose the lotus symbol.”

He began his address with the slogan “Jai Kara Sherowali”at Katra rally. PM Modi targeted Rahul Gandhi here and called him the viral of Congress

This time the situation has reversed as the NC and PDP are up against those who are getting good public support. Also, as people are feeling confident to vote, the chances are diminishing for people like Abdullah and Mufti, who used to win almost unopposed in their respective strongholds. The BJP is not contesting many seats in Kashmir, as they are probably fielding proxy candidates, as they know that votes may get divided among regional parties and make way for new candidates, who may later announce their association with the BJP. Politicians like Farooq Abdullah are making the same allegations. Omar chose Budgam as his second seat along with Ganderbal. He believed that Srinagar MP Agha Ruhullah could help him win the seat given his loyal voter base in Budgam. Omar Abdullah is contesting from Ganderbal after two decades.

PM raised a slogan from the stage and said, this time.. then people said- Modi government. On this, PM Modi interrupted the people and said, “Not Modi government, but BJP government.”

PM Modi said, it is BJP that gives priority to your interests, it is BJP that has ended discrimination against you for decades. So say this in a loud voice, this time BJP government. We need a government here that respects our faith. Congress can put our faith and culture at stake anytime for a few votes.”

PM said, “The heir of Congress goes abroad and says that deities are not God. There is a tradition of worshipping goddesses and gods in Hinduism. And this Congress says that deities are not God. Is this an insult to our gods or not? This is a well thought out move. This is Naxalite thinking, this is thinking imported from another country. You need to be careful of these people.”

PM Modi lashed out at the Jammu Kashmir Congress Party and said that selling the goods of hatred in the name of the shop of love is their old policy. He said, “The royal family of Congress is the most corrupt family of the country, this family is the originator and nurturer of corruption in India. The royal family here is called corrupt. Congress has deliberately attacked the Dogra heritage. Selling goods of hatred in the name of love is their old policy.”

The PM said, “Congress does not see anything other than vote bank, they increased the gap between Jammu and Kashmir for years. We have connected Jammu to the new wave of development. Congress, NC and PDP have treated Reasi and Udhampur step-motherly, you know this better.”

While referring to employment opportunities in Jammu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Today, work is going on on four big power plants in Jammu division. These will not only provide electricity, but many youngsters are also getting employment. There is a lot of talk about the Eiffel Tower in Paris, but this Chenab Bridge is even higher than that. Today, its picture is spread all over the world. Congress had also suppressed the file of this world’s highest railway bridge.”

The PM said, “All of you people of Katra are witnesses to how the BJP works. When we decided to run a semi-high speed train like Vande Bharat, the first train ran from here. Today, two Vande Bharat trains run from Delhi. In the past years, there have been changes in Katra railway station and Reasi railway station.

Article written by and Editorial credit: State Bureau Chief Himanshu Nauriyal.