Modi lauds security forces for ensuring peace
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, July 3: Prime Minister Narendra Modi said today that the goal of his Government in Jammu and Kashmir is good governance, development, responsibility and accountability even as he maintained that Centre Government’s Special Representative on J&K (Dineshwar Sharma) is in touch with many people in the State.
In an interview to Swarajya magazine, the entire content of which was uploaded by the Prime Minister on twitter today, Modi coined new terminology of good governance, development, responsibility and accountability as the BJP-led NDA Government’s goal in Kashmir.
He was asked since the alliance in Jammu and Kashmir didn’t work as he had imagined and that what was his aim for the State, which is under the Governor’s rule.
This was Modi’s first reaction on Jammu and Kashmir after the BJP walked out of alliance with the PDP, leading to imposition of Governor’s rule in the State on June 19.
On whether there will be dialogue with stakeholders in Jammu and Kashmir, the Prime Minister referred to the appointment of Interlocutor (Dineshwar Sharma) in Jammu and Kashmir saying he is in touch with many people.
“We have appointed an Interlocutor, and he is in touch with many people. He is travelling to the interiors and engaging with the people,” Modi said.
Giving details of the security scenario in the country, Modi commended the “brave” and “eternally vigilant” security forces for ensuring peace as well as prosperity for 125 crore Indians.
“You can ascertain our security situation from the fact that recurrent terror attacks that were common under the UPA are now history. The numbers vis-a-vis Maoist violence in the last four years should make every Indian happy,” he said.
Along with zero tolerance towards violence, the Prime Minister asserted, his Government has also focused on a massive push to infrastructure and social empowerment to bring positive change in the lives of the poor living in Maoist affected regions.
“What can solve people’s problems is not violence but development. And that is why, our approach (while having no tolerance for any sort of violence and disturbance) is to devote unparalleled resources towards the development of areas prone to violence,” he said.
On political front, Modi said the proposed grand opposition alliance is merely a “grand race” by his rivals to be the Prime Minister and is driven by “personal survival and power politics”.
He said the Opposition has no agenda except to remove him and that “hatred for Modi” is their “sole gluing force” as he expressed confidence that people will vote the BJP back to power in the next Lok Sabha elections.
In a swipe at the Congress, he said the main opposition party is fighting a battle for its survival and is now running from pillar to post looking for allies after people rejected its “high-handedness”.
Ridiculing Rahul Gandhi-led party, the Prime Minister said it is now like a regional party and cannot become a cementing force or anchor for any alliance of opposition parties against him.
Dubbing the next election a choice between governance and development on one side and chaos on the other, Modi cited the example of Karnataka, where the Congress-JD(S) alliance “stole the mandate” to form Government with “development taking a back seat”.
“In any election, a non-ideological and opportunist coalition is the best guarantee for chaos,” he said, describing Karnataka as “a trailer of what is possible in store”.
The BJP, he said, contests elections on the issues of development and good governance and the mandates it has received in the State after State are historic.
“Hence, we are confident that people will repose their trust in us. They (opposition) have no agenda except to remove Modi. Hatred for Modi is the sole gluing force for the Opposition,” he said.
Modi said he is “not a `Shahenshah’ or an imperious ruler” unaffected by the warmth of the people and gains strength from his interactions with the public.
He said he cannot remain seated in his car when he sees a lot of people out on the streets to greet and welcome him.
“I am not a `Shahenshah’ or an imperious ruler who is unaffected by their warmth. Being among people gives me lot of strength,” Modi said amid reports of an “all time high” security threat to him.
The Prime Minister was answering a question on apprehension in the minds of his well wishers about his personal security during road shows.
“Whenever I am travelling, I see that a lot of people, from all age groups and sections of society, are out on the streets to greet me and welcome me. I can’t just remain seated in my car, aloof from their display of affection and care. That is why I invariably get down and greet, interact with people as much as I can,” he said.
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