People of J-K showed that ballot is stronger than bullet: PM Modi to cheering crowd in Jammu

Srinagar: Three days after the deadly terror attack that killed 11 security personnel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Monday that a finger pressed on an EVM is more powerful than the one on an AK-47 trigger as he asked the people of Jammu and Kashmir to give a decisive mandate to BJP.

Modi also said the resettlement of displaced people is a national responsibility and his government will ensure that those who have been displaced are rehabilitated.

"The finger pressed on an EVM is more powerful than a finger pressed on the trigger of an AK-47," Modi said addressing an election rally here, ahead of the third round of voting in the state on Tuesday.

Modi's visit comes just three days after a deadly terror attack in Uri by Pakistani terrorists that killed 11 security personnel including an Lt Col of the Army.

Modi said the misguided youth are now feeling the burden of an AK47 and craving for Android 1, a platform for mobile phones.

He also hit out at what he called the "dynastic rule" in the state and said that J&K needs a stable government.

"You have seen the rule of the father and son. You have seen the rule of the father and daughter. Have they done any thing for you?" he said in an indirect reference to National Conference and PDP rule.

There is a need for a majority government, a BJP government in J&K, he said.

The Prime Minister said that the youth of the state needs employment and development, which only BJP can give.

The Prime Minister once again did not mention the controversial issue of abrogation of Article 370.

Paying tribute to the Army personnel who laid down their lives in the recent terror attack, Modi said, "Army jawans have laid down their lives for your democracy. Their martyrdom will not go in waste. It should not go in vain".

Addressing the election rally at Vijaypur, his fourth in Jammu and Kashmir, Modi praised the high voter turn out of over 70 per cent in the state and said the people had shown to the world the power of ballot.

Inspite of the winter conditions, "people of J&K have polled 70-71 percent votes and scripted history. I praise the people of J&K for this," he said.

"You (J&K people) have exercised the right of franchise and shown faith in democracy. Those people who were suppressing you (people of J&K) with bullets, you have defeated the bullets by use of ballots," he said.

"The finger that presses the trigger of AK-47 takes lives and kill people, but the finger that presses EVM changes the destiny of the country", Modi said.

He said the entire country is proud of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

"The way you (people of J&K) have defeated the bullets the people of entire country are proud of you. Everybody in the country is praising you. It is a lesson for those people who despite living in an environment of peace, love and family comfort, do not come out to vote."

"Your power is more than those holding AK-47 rifle so I have come here today to request you to form majority BJP government in the state and stamp out the dynastic rule of the two families. I assure you that I will repay with interest what you have given to me by undertaking development of the state", the Prime Minister said.

Terming PDP, NC and Congress as beneficiaries of politics of opportunism, Modi alleged that they have neglected the J&K for decades together. "They should be rejected by the people of J&K," he said.

Hitting out at Congress for enjoying power with both PDP and NC in coalition, the Prime Minister said that Congress sits into the lap of PDP and NC for power and then criticises them during elections.

Stating that BJP wants to start a new era of politics--the politics of development --in the state, he invoked the party's slogan of "sab ka sath, sab ka vikas".

He said that politics of opportunism must end to undertake development of the state. "For this we have to get rid of dynastic rule of these families and form a government of BJP with majority in the state, he added.

Modi said that people should vote to form a majority government rather than "3-legged or four-headed" government.

Referring to the issue of refugees of PoK and other displaced people in Jammu and Kashmir, Modi said that it is the country's responsibility to rehabilitate them and give them full rights.

Promising to mitigate the problems of 12 lakh displaced people in the state, he said that for 60 years they have not been given their rights.