NEW DELHI, Jan 10:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today lauded the people of Jammu and Kashmir for reposing faith in democracy by voting in large numbers in the recent polls but was silent on the subsequent political stalemate because of which Governor’s Rule was imposed in the state.
Addressing a rally here, he said this Assembly election has demonstrated to the world the faith the people of the State have in Indian democratic system by defying threats and boycott calls.
“My biggest thanks to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. They turned out in such large numbers to vote despite calls by separatists… There were efforts to whip up anti-India sentiments and defame India globally,” he said.
He said the state, which at one point of time did not record even two per cent votes, saw a 65-70 percent turnout this time around.
About BJP, which got 25 seats in the 87-member Assembly, Modi said it had registered a “historic victory”.
He, however, was silent on the stalemate that followed the fractured electoral verdict with no political government being formed in the state. Because of this, Governor’s Rule was imposed in the State yesterday.
PDP, which has emerged as the single largest party with 28 seats and BJP were in talks to form the government but apparently could not reach any agreement.
Amidst tensions at the borders with Pakistan, BJP President Amit Shah said there has been a “big change” since the Narendra Modi government took charge as, unlike earlier, “Hindustan Army” is now hitting back harder in response to ceasefire violations.
Shah said “there has been a big change” after Modi came to the helm of affairs at the Centre when it comes to dealing with instances of firing from across the border by Pakistani troops.
Earlier, Pakistan used to begin the firing and end it also. But now, while they begin it, ending is done by the Hindustan forces. That is the difference,” Shah said.
Addressing the rally, he claimed that under the previous UPA government, there was no response from India to such cases of firing from across the border.
“But under BJP, ‘wahan se goli aati hai, yahan se gola jaata hai. Eet ka jawab patthar se diya jaata hai'”, he said, adding that India’s security is high on the agenda of the Modi Government.
Further criticising the Congress-led dispensation which preceded it at the Centre, the BJP President said that the UPA government had not done any work for 10 years vis-a-vis the modernisation of armed forces.
“The UPA government failed in augmenting the strength of the three forces,” he said, adding that the NDA government has taken a series of decisions in the last six months to compensate for the last decade. The government has cleared modernisation projects worth over Rs 1.5 lakh crore since coming to power.
Declining to give any timeframe on formation of Government in Jammu and Kashmir, BJP claimed there will be a stable Government in that State soon.
“We hope to have a stable Government. BJP, obviously will be a part of that Government. We will have a stable Government in Jammu and Kashmir soon,” BJP National General Secretary Ram Madhav said.
He was talking to reporters here on the sidelines of a function, a day after Governor’s Rule was imposed in J&K.
On the delay in the formation of the new Government, he said, “Yes it is taking some time. We hope to bring some kind of arrangement soon.”
“We do not want to give any deadlines. We want to do it as soon as possible,” he said, adding, that was the reason he was rushing to Delhi. (PTI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel