“They talk about the Constitution. The Constitution does not infringe on the right to prosecute constitutional offences. But our journalists have been brutally treated by the Congress in the US. Indian citizens have been insulted in the US,” PM Modi said at a rally in Doda in Jammu and Kashmir’s state.
Indian National Congress claims to be running ‘Mohabbat ki Dukkah’ but insults US-based Indian journalist: PM Modi
The prime minister also criticised the BJP, the Indian National Congress and the People’s Democratic Party, warning that if their policies were implemented, Jammu and Kashmir would return to the days when schools were burnt and children pelted with stones.
“The Indian National Congress, PDP and NC want the restoration of Article 370, which means the three families will once again snatch reservation from Pahadi people. If their manifesto is implemented, schools will be burnt again, children will carry stones in their hands and there will be strikes,” PM Modi said.
PM Modi also accused the Opposition of stripping away reservation for Pahadi, SC, ST and OBC communities in the former state and said that Opposition leaders have recently been keeping copies of the Constitution in their pockets just to hide their “misdeeds”.
“These days, they (opposition parties) are carrying a copy of the Constitution in their pockets. Why are they doing this? To hide their misdeeds. They have flouted the spirit of the Constitution. Why were there two Constitutions here? Why were Pahadis, SCs, STs and OBCs deprived of reservations? After generations, the BJP government gave them reservations. Today, many people are getting the right to vote for the first time. The Constitution of India gives the right to vote to everyone. But those who had the Constitution in their pockets were depriving this right from a section of you for 75 years,” PM Modi added.
Modi also hit out at the Congress for Mallikarjun Kharge’s recent comments: “What is the Congress’ thinking and intention? This is clear from the words of its party president. He has come here and said, ‘If we had won 20 more seats, all Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, including Modi, would have been in jail’. Is this their aim?” he said.
He also said that all the people of Jammu and Kashmir, irrespective of their religious, regional or cultural affiliation, are “a priority for the BJP government”.
“I will assure you that your rights will be protected. Only the BJP can strengthen the position of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
PM Modi later also highlighted the work done by the Union Government in the Union Territories.
“Residents of Ramban district, Doda Kishtwar and Kashmir valley can now travel to Delhi directly by rail. We will fulfill this dream of yours. Very soon, work on the railway line from Delhi to Srinagar via Ramban will be completed. The station is ready and testing has begun. Soon, this section too will be connected to the rest of the country by rail. We are determined to provide better education and better treatment to the poorest of the poor,” the Prime Minister said.
“Jammu and Kashmir is a state where every family gets free treatment up to Rs 50 lakh. The BJP in Jammu and Kashmir has announced that every poor family will be given free treatment up to Rs 70 lakh… The eldest daughter of the family has also announced that Rs 18,000 will be deposited every year in the bank account of the eldest daughter of the family…Earlier, farmers in Jammu and Kashmir were getting Rs 6,000 under PM Saman Nidhi. Now the BJP has announced to increase it to Rs 10,000,” he added.
The Prime Minister also assured that the BJP government would grant full statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
Eight seats in three districts — Doda, Kishtwar and Ramban — will go to polls in the first phase of the state assembly elections on September 18. The next two rounds of voting are scheduled for September 25 and October 1, with the counting of votes on October 8.
