SRINAGAR: Promising to take Kashmir to new heights of development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Monday said that he has not come here to seek votes but to share the pain of Kashmiri people.
Addressing his maiden political rally in Srinagar, Modi said: I am not here to seek votes but have come to heal your wounds. People of Kashmir have given me a lot of trust and love. I will repay this love and trust with interest in the form of development. I can die for this love and trust showered on me,” he said in his first public rally in the Valley.
Modi however avoided reference to the controversial issues like relationship with neighbouring Pakistan or about the BJP stance on Article 370.
In his 30 minutes speech at the impressive rally at Sher-i-Kashmir Cricket Stadium, Modi used the opportunity to attack the “all pervasive” corruption under successive governments of “Congress, father-son and father-daughter” in the last 30 years and asked the people to give him “one chance” to bring development.
Wearing a traditional Kashmiri ‘Pheran’, Modi sought to strike a chord with the people saying,”I as Pradhan Sevak have come to share your pain and anguish. Your sorrow is my sorrow, your pain is my pain, your problem is my problem. I have not come to take anything.
I want to put a balm on the wounds of Kashmiri people. I want to give you such a healing touch so that you will never think distant and aloof from the worlds largest democracy, Modi said.
I am committed to find solution to each of your problems within the ambit of humanity. On the basis of humanity, the plan that my government has formulated for the Jammu and Kashmir will ensure that all the promises should get fulfilled and implemented on ground. Corruption free administration, rehabilitation, restoration of peace and confidence among people will be my priority, he said.
“People in the army and police have died so have the innocent youths. Their loss is irreparable and no one can compensate for it but sharing can reduce the pain.”
Invoking Vajpayee’s famous 2003 speech at the same venue, Modi said,”Vajpayee made a good beginning. I have come to carry this forward. It is my duty to carry forward and fulfil his dreams of Insaniyat, Kashmiriyat and Jumhuriyat (democracy) which are the three pillars that can turn around Kashmir in the 21st century on the path of development.”
He further added, “since the government has come to power, I have come here every month and I will come in 2015 also.
Modi said that there is rampant corruption in Kashmir. People requested me to transfer the money directly in their bank accounts when I visited Valley after the floods. The requests made by people indicated that they have lost faith in the government here. I want to assure you that I will free Jammu and Kashmir from the corruption, he said.
In Jammu and Kashmir, the dynastic rule is the root cause of political instability, rampant corruption, economic destabilization, and deterioration of education and health sector. It is because the successive governments in Jammu and Kashmir misused the central funds and did not utilize those for the developmental purposes. You all know that political parties and leaders exploited you people for their petty gains and played with your sentiments.
Modi further said: In a bid to keep the pot boiling and to make dynastic rule strong, some particular leaders played such tricks that people of Jammu and Kashmir got entangled in multiple problems.
I am committed to change the situation of Jammu and Kashmir within the ambit of humanity but I seek and need your support. You know that people across India decided to get rid of dynastic rule and Congress party disappeared from the scene during Parliament elections. The father-son, father-daughter pairs have been exploiting the people of Kashmir but I assure you that BJP will lead state towards development and will change the destiny of people, he said adding that while watching the foundations of dynastic rule shaking, some regional parties are frustrated and they leave no stone unturned in misleading people of Kashmir about the policies of BJP.
Let us we all pledge that we will not allow anybody to play with our sentiments. Let us join hands to annihilate the dynastic rule and make Kashmir a peaceful paradise. Kashmir has potential and it is rich in natural resources. Its electricity generating capacity can illuminate whole India, he said adding: “Small hydro-electric plants will give employment opportunities to youth of the state and allow them to lead a life of dignity.
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