‘Heavy turnout in Valley has given clear message to world’
*Art 370 was agenda of ‘four-five families’
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, May 28: Prime Minister Narendra Modi while referring to Pakistan occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK) today said he still fails to understand how half a Kashmir was gone from the hands of a big country in a small war after independence.
Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp
In separate interviews with a Hindi news channel and news agency today, Modi said there was partition of the country…what were the compulsions…who was responsible but after partition, a small war took place and half of the Kashmir was gone.
“Such a big country. What was the thinking? What was the shortcoming in our country? This doesn’t fit in my mind,” the Prime Minister said.
He, however, didn’t name Jawahar Lal Nehru, who was the Prime Minister then. PoJK which is still in possession of Pakistan has been a big issue in the current Parliamentary elections with Home Minister Amit Shah and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh categorically stating that occupied Kashmir is ours and we will take it. Rajnath has also stated that people of PoJK will themselves call for merger of their region with Jammu and Kashmir.
Modi said enthusiastic participation of electorates in the Kashmir valley has given a clear message to the world as well as those who had doubts. It is a matter of great satisfaction for me that brothers and sisters from Kashmir came forward to exercise their right to franchise with great enthusiasm.
“By casting their votes in large numbers, the people of Kashmir have given a message to the world and to those who used to have doubts,” he added.
Voting records of 40 years have been broken. When the common man votes there, it is not just to make someone win, voting means that the voter accepts the Constitution of India and expresses his dedication towards the entire spirit of India,” the Prime Minister said.
It may be mentioned here that polling percentage in all three Parliamentary constituencies of Kashmir has broken records of three to four decades with people turning out in large numbers to cast their votes. Polling has been completed in all six Lok Sabha seats in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Asserting that Article 370 of the Constitution of India that granted special status to erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir was neither the agenda of the people of Kashmir nor of the country, Modi said it was the agenda of only “four-five families”. These families, for their benefits, used to say that if Article 370 is abrogated, there will be a fire, he added.
“Now, there is a feeling of more unity with the removal of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. The feeling of belongingness is also increasing and the result is visible in the elections and in the increase in tourism in the Union Territory,” he said.
Modi pointed out that the people in Kashmir warmly welcomed the delegates during events related to the G20 summit.
He said that the decisions of the Government were always for a good cause.
“Sometimes I had to shut down the internet. Some NGOs went to court and it became a big issue in the court but today the children there proudly say that the internet has not been shut down for the last 5 years and we have been getting all the facilities. There was some pain for a few days, but it was for a good cause,” the Prime Minister said.
PTI adds from Dumka, Jharkhand:-
Claiming that the tribal population was decreasing in the Santhal Parganas because of infiltration, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday accused the JMM-led ruling alliance in Jharkhand of “patronising” infiltrators, who he said were grabbing land and putting women at risk.
Addressing an election rally in Dumka, Modi said he had heard that the term “love jihad” was coined by the people of Jharkhand and that efforts were made in one district of the State to change the weekly holiday from Sunday, which was connected to the Christian community, to Friday.
“A big crisis looms over Jharkhand and that is infiltration. The Santhal Parganas is facing the challenge of infiltration. In many areas, the population of tribals is declining fast and the number of infiltrators is on the rise. The infiltrators are grabbing tribal lands. Tribal daughters are the target of infiltrators. Their security and safety are at risk. Their lives are also at risk,” he said.
Apparently referring to two incidents that happened in 2022, Modi said, “Tribal daughters are being chopped into 50 pieces… Being burnt alive… Someone’s tongue was pulled out. Who are these people who are targeting tribal daughters? Why is the JMM government patronising them?”
The PM said that he heard that the term “love jihad” was coined by the people of Jharkhand.
“A friend was telling me that the term ‘love jihad’ emanated from Jharkhand. The people of Jharkhand have coined this term,” he said.
Accusing the JMM of indulging in “communal and appeasement politics”, he said that despite Sunday being a holiday since the British era, in one Jharkhand district, it was changed to Friday.
“Sunday is not linked to Hindus but to the Christian community. It has been a holiday since 200-300 years. In one district, they changed the holiday from Sunday to Tuesday. First, they fought with Hindus, now they are fighting with Christians. What is going on?” Modi asked.
“INDI Alliance’s politics is based on the formula of communal appeasement, patronising separatists and protecting terrorists… Those who oppose it face the allegation of dividing Hindus and Muslims,” he said.
The PM said that the opposition INDIA bloc was providing reservations on the basis of religion.
“It will not be tolerated. Till Modi is alive, reservations cannot be provided for ‘vote jihad’,” he said.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
