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In Kishtwar election rally, Kashmir figures in Modi's speech, Jammu finds no mention
Like his predecessors, he too seems to be taking Jammu people for granted
11/23/2014 12:08:11 AM
Early Times Report
JAMMU/KISHTWAR, Nov 22: In the Kishtwar rally, the first to be addressed by Narender Modi during his election campaign in J&K, the prime minister mainly remained focussed on Kashmir, leaving people of Jammu region disappointed.
In his about 40-minute address, he hardly made any reference of Jammu. He talked about removing unemployment from Kashmir and rebuilding Valley into a tourism hotspot but did not feel it proper to make a mention of the problems which Kishtwar and other Jammu areas were faced with. Till some time back, he had been saying that Jammuites had suffered a lot at the hands of Kashmir-centric politicians.
"I know the aspirations of Kashmiri youth. I have come to wipe tears of Kashmir. Give our party an opportunity to serve you and it will remove all your problems," he said.
His these statements show that there has been a shift in BJP's policy towards Kashmir. The party has all of a sudden started toeing the Congress line of "Appeasement of Muslims in Kashmir". But ignoring the Jammu people and their aspirations won't pay the party. Jammuites understand all these poll gimmicks and were unlikely to spare any party which takes them for granted and treats them like second class citizens.
In the rally, Modi couldn't evoke much response from the thousands of people who had gathered there to listen to his views. He, people said, was more keen on reaching out to Kashmiri Muslims and appeasing them rather than saying something for the welfare of the people of Kishtwar and the people of other areas of Jammu region.
"He talked about Kashmir and the people of the Kashmir. It seems he has not done his home work or has not been properly guided by the state BJP leaders. He didn't say anything about Kishtwar, which is most backward, leave aside Jammu region," said Rakesh Kumar of Kishtwar.
He said he "understands the aspirations of the Kashmiri people and youth" while narrating the incident of a Poonch youth who had come to meet him.
People were expecting him to make some announcement on the development of this region, which has vast potential for hydro power but he didn't say anything in this regard.
"He could have at least announced that NHPC will give some percentage of free electricity to Kishtwar. He could have talked about saffron production or how to market our local organic products but he didn't say anything. This left us disappointed," said Mohammad Sheikh of Inderwal, a Congress stronghold.
Though people applauded him but at the end of the rally, they felt that the prime minister had neglected them and ignored their genuine concerns.
"It seems Modi, like other PMs, had taken people of the Jammu region, especially Hindus , for granted. And, this can prove his biggest mistake. There is already a tough electoral battle in Kishtwar where NC candidate SajjadKichloo has huge resources. A marginal shift can mar BJP's chances and the PM's speech has given opponents a handle to exploit," said Inder Dev.
The BJP was hoping a division in Muslim votes and getting some share of them also but after the Modi's speech, it was felt that even the Hindu voters could vote for Kichloo as he had personal relations with several of them.
Modi surprisingly made no mention of article 370 in his address. People feel that he should have made clear his stand on the abrogation of Article 370 without mixing words. He also did not announce from which region the BJP chief ministerial candidate would be. Delimitation of constituencies is another important issue but he was silent on it also.
The prime minister has also been accused of violating the model code of conduct (MCC) by allegedly addressing a state government sponsored election rally in Kishtwar.
"Modi's rally in Kishtwar was in gross violation of MCC as the same was organised by the state government," JKNPP supremoBhim Singh alleged in an election rally at Bhaderwah.
He also accused Modi of resorting to the use of communal factor in his speech.
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