Srinagar, March 7: In his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Thursday that Congress and its allies misled the people in the name of Article 370.
Addressing a mammoth gathering at the Bakshi Stadium here on Thursday, the PM said that the members of the Congress and their friends in J&K kept the people away from their basic rights.
“They deceived the people in the name of Article 370 saying that the benefits of the people were because of this article while the benefits of these families were only linked with Article 370.
“They kept the people chained in shackles for their personal benefit and now those shackles have been broken,” PM Modi said.
He said that the people have been given their basic rights after the abrogation of Article 370.
The PM also took potshots at INDIA bloc leaders for making ‘personal attacks’ against him. He said that those who allege that he has no family need to understand that the people of Kashmir and the rest of the country are Modi’s family.
A visibly happy and emotionally stirred Prime Minister said that the members of the past ruling dynasties often say that he has no family.
“They must understand that the people of Jammu Kashmir and the rest of the country are Modi’s family. Today, I am in this paradise on Earth and my feelings are beyond my capacity to express them in words,” he stated.
“I am told that in addition to the massive gathering inside the Stadium today over one lakh more people in 285 blocks of J&K are seeing and listening to me by joining this programme through the use of technology.
“By seeing your smiling faces, more than 140 crore people of the rest of the country are feeling reassured and satisfied today. Your large presence and the love today has made me more indebted to you people and I will leave no stone unturned in returning this love manifold more,” he stressed.
‘Ye Chu Modiyun Guarantee’ (This is Modi’s guarantee)”, he said in Kashmiri language. He said this love is the guarantee of Modi’s guarantee to the people of Kashmir.
The Prime Minister said that the last time he came to Jammu and inaugurated projects worth Rs 32,000 crore.
“And in a short time from then, I am among you in Srinagar. I have inaugurated new schemes today, given appointment letters to more than 1000 youth,” he said.
“Jammu Kashmir is not just a region, it is the crown of India and the crown must always rise high in the fields of development and progress of the country.”
“In the past, the benefits of national schemes and programmes were not passed on to the people of J&K, but after the abrogation of article 370, these benefits are now directly available to the people here.”
“We have sanctioned integrated development of the holy shrine of Hazrtabal. I have identified 40 new tourist destinations today. My appeal to NRIs is that they might not bring US dollars/pounds, but each NRI family must ensure to send 5 members to visit India.”
“I also appeal to tourists who come here to buy local products to the extent of 5 to 10 per cent of their travel budget. This will benefit the local people. I also liked some products today and have purchased them.”
“I have a new proposal for the families those spend millions on marriage celebrations abroad. My proposal is ‘Wed in India’. Come with your ‘Baraats’ and spend lavishly in India.”
He said a record breaking over 2 crore tourists visited Kashmir last year.
“More pilgrims came for the Amarnath Yatra and to the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine. Film shootings, visits by stars and celebrities are taking place now and these are being made viral through videos and films,” Modi said adding that this will all benefit the economic growth of Kashmir.
