Kashmir alone can light up entire country, PM Modi hits campaign trail in J&K
Kistwar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on whom BJP is banking heavily hit the campaign trail in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday when he addressed a public rally in Kishtwar, four days ahead of the first phase of balloting for the Assembly elections in the state.
He will address at least seven rallies in the state, holding at least a rally or two ahead of each of the five phases of the polls in the state.
According to BJP sources, Modi will address another rally next week in Udhampur in Jammu region and later a rally in Kashmir valley too.
Sources said the BJP is banking heavily on aggressive campaigning by Modi in its bid to achieve its ambitious "Mission 44+" target required in an Assembly of 87 seats. The party is targeting the educated class in the state to send home the message that development is key to the state's progress and the government of the same party at the Centre and the state would help achieve this easily.
To woo the intellectual-class in the state, the sources said Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and other noted lawyers would also campaign and hold public meetings. Buoyed with the party's recent successes in Haryana and Maharashtra, the BJP is optimistic of performing well in the Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand, both of which will have five-phased polling from November 25.
The BJP has also chalked out a strategy for Jammu and Kashmir and is working in close coordination with smaller parties as well as moderate separatists in the valley to achieve its target of forming a government of its own and has had talks with some of them. The Assembly polls in the state will start from November 25 and end on December 20. The results will be out on December 23.
Here are the highlights of his speech:
- I am here to talk about development
- People are astonished about why Modi likes Jammu and Kashmir so much, I come here because I want to continue what Atal ji started
- I visited Kutch as Gujarat CM, Kutch has significant population of Muslims
- Earlier if someone was posted to Kutch it was seen as a punishment posting. But now I can say this Kutch is the fastest growing district
- Can only 2 families rule Kashmir? Does the youth here not have the strength to run J&K?
- These two families have an understanding. One will rule for 5 years then the other comes. There is a 5-year contract to loot for both
- I am here to wipe your tears
- Jammu and Kashmir alone has the potential to produce enough electricity to light up India
- The film industry was crazy about Kashmir. So many films were shot here but they went away. I want to bring them back
- If there is a hole in the bucket then the water will not stay, I wonder where the money that comes from the Centre goes
- For the present Govt, the flood disaster was an opportunity to loot
- Whole India is with you
- From J&K we will find solution to the issue of the refugees. I want to tell those spreading lies that they shouldn’t mislead people
