Shri Narendra Modi addressed the Lalkaar Rally in the city of Jammu on the afternoon of Sunday 1st December 2013. In a comprehensive address filled with hope, aspiration and the message of peace and development, Shri Narendra Modi presented his vision for the people of Jammu Kashmir. He said that the time has come to move beyond the mentality of Jammu Kashmir being a beggar state and make the state a better state through good governance and fulfilling the aspirations of the people. “Jammu Kashmir Bhikhari Nahi Hain…yeh desh ke liye jeene marne wale log hain,” (people of J&K are not beggars, they want to dedicate themselves to our nation) he affirmed. He also said that the Centre is in deep slumber and no amount of people’s anger would awaken them.
In a clear message to those who have played petty politics with the aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir for 60 years, Shri Modi declared, “For 60 years they have been talking about separate state but the people got nothing. And there is even no accountability. In the name of creating a separate state they encouraged separatism. Wouldn’t it have been better if they had worked towards creating a super state? It was Atal ji who showed the way in turning J&K into a super state!”
Shri Modi recalled the vision of former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee for Jammu and Kashmir. He affirmed, “For 14 years no PM had gone to Jammu and Kashmir. Atal ji changed that and went to Jammu and Kashmir. He gave 3 Mantas- Insaniyat, Jamhuriat and Kashmiriyat (Humanity, democracy and J&K). We aspire to walk on that path.”
Shri Modi affirmed that the time has come for a debate of Article 370 and went on to say that Article 370 has become like a Kavach for leaders of J&K. He shared that none other than Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru had spoken about Article 370’s reducing importance over time and asked why the Prime Minister, who otherwise is at the forefront of asking the BJP to follow ideals of great leaders, not doing what Pandit Nehru felt.
During his speech, Shri Modi questioned why is it that people of Jammu and Kashmir are not getting the benefits of the Acts the Congress is otherwise taking credit for? He asked why must the people of Kashmir not get the same rights as what the marginalized communities all over India get? He questioned why J&K must not get a comprehensive anti-corruption law when the entire nation is fed up with corruption. Likewise, he asked why must men & women not get equal rights in J&K and called for stopping discrimination against women in the state. “Here I am not talking about men or women but I am talking about the development of Jammu and Kashmir. Development comes with integration…if you look back in history there are some 50 families who have gained. Rest of Kashmir has been ignored” avowed Shri Modi.
The NDA’s PM candidate asked why were no steps taken to create IITs and IIMs in J&K for the youth? He asked why no steps were taken to set up an institute for films considering so many movies were shot in J&K. Shri Modi pointed that the Himalayas are a rich source of herbs with medicinal value but wanted to know why Ayurveda is not being given importance? He made it clear that by fighting with each other, by an attitude of discrimination nothing can happen.
Shri Modi paid rich tributes to Maharaja Hari Singh, Dr. SP Mookerjee, Shri Prem Nath Dogra and several other proud sons of the region.
BJP President Shri Rajnath Singh spoke on the occasion. He recalled Dr. SP Mookerjee and described Jammu and Kashmir as the crown of India. He credited normalcy in the region to the policies and vision of Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. BJP leaders Shri JP Nadda, Shri Avinash Rai Khanna and others were present on the occasion.
