• Slams Cong for “corrupt family rule,” defends Dogra heritage
• Cong selling ‘Hate’ in the Name of ‘Love’
• BJP restores water rights, builds dams to empower Jammu’s farmers
• Power projects will generate employment for Jammu region
Srinagar, Sep 19: Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Thursday that as long as the BJP is in power, Article 370 will never be reinstated, ruling out any external influence on Jammu and Kashmir.
Addressing a large election rally in Katra, he firmly rejected Pakistan’s claims of aligning with the Congress and National Conference (NC) on the issue of restoring the abrogated articles.
“I was surprised to see Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif claim that Pakistan and the NC-Congress alliance were on the same page regarding Article 370 and Article 35A,” Modi said. He ridiculed the situation, adding, “Nobody is giving them (Congress and National Conference) any importance here. But in Pakistan, inki balle balle ho rahi hai (they are being celebrated).”
Modi reaffirmed his stance, making it clear that Pakistan’s agenda will not be implemented in Jammu and Kashmir. “There is no question of reinstating Article 370 as long as the BJP is in power. We are committed to restoring statehood to Jammu and Kashmir, as promised on the floor of the House,” he declared.
PM Modi launched a sharp attack on the Congress, referring to them as the “most corrupt family of the nation,” claiming they birthed corruption in India. He took issue with Congress leaders’ recent comments regarding the Dogra royal family in Jammu, labeling their remarks an affront to the region’s cultural heritage.
“They called the royal family of Dogras corrupt in their own land. This is their old strategy of selling ‘Nafrat Ka Saman’ (goods of hatred) in the name of ‘Mohabbat Ki Dukan’ (shop of love),” Modi said.
The Prime Minister further accused Congress of adopting a Naxal mindset and promoting corruption, stating, “Congress is attacking Dogra culture on its own soil. Under this Naxal thinking, Congress attacked the Dogra heritage in Jammu.”
He contrasted this with the BJP’s efforts to honor Maharaja Hari Singh, recalling the BJP’s decision to declare a holiday in his name. “Congress attempted to tarnish the legacy of Maharaja Hari Singh. We, on the other hand, have recognized his contributions,” Modi added.
Highlighting the BJP’s achievements in Jammu, PM Modi noted how the party corrected long-standing neglect by Congress, NC, and PDP, particularly in the region of Reasi and Kathua. “These parties even allowed our water to flow across the border without constructing a dam at Shahpur Kandi,” he said. “It was the BJP that finally built the dam, providing water to hundreds of farmers.”
PM Modi also emphasized key infrastructure developments, including the construction of the world’s highest rail bridge over the Chenab River, taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Additionally, the Vande Bharat Express from Delhi to Katra and upgraded railway stations in the region were cited as markers of progress.
He also noted ongoing projects such as the Pakal Dul, Ratle, Kiru, and Kawar power projects, which are expected to not only provide electricity but also generate employment for Jammu’s youth.
Modi celebrated the surge in tourism under the BJP, particularly the influx of over 2 crore tourists to Jammu and Kashmir. Of these, 95 lakh visited the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine. “Improved railway connectivity has played a major role in this, and I expect record numbers of tourists in the coming years to further boost the region’s economy and the livelihood of its people,” he said. His rally in Katra was the second in the ongoing Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections, following his earlier address in Doda on September 14.
