Srinagar, Mar 07 (KNS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that Jammu and Kashmir is “breathing freely” today as there is no Article 370 that was the biggest hinderance in its development.
Addressing a mega rally at Srinagar’s Bakshi stadium, PM Modi as per KNS said “this is the new Jammu and Kashmir which we have been waiting for since decades and this is the new Jammu and Kashmir for which Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee sacrificed his life.”
He said that today the region is developing at a rapid pace after the Central government abrogated Article 370 that had hindered Jammu and Kashmir’s development for decades.
“Today Jammu and Kashmir is touching new heights and people are breathing freely. This has been possible only after our government scrapped the Article 370,” PM Modi said.
?PM Modi said that he has succeeded in winning the hearts of the people of Kashmir and he wants to win more. “I have been working hard to win your hearts. I believe that I’m moving in the right direction. I have succeeded in winning your hearts. This is ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’ which is means guaranteed fulfilment of the guarantee,” he said.
He also accused the Congress of misleading the people of Jammu and Kashmir in the name of Article 370 and that former rulers and “dynastic politics” had limited the potential of Jammu and Kashmir.
“But today there are equal rights and opportunities for all. The people know the truth that they were misled. The youth of Jammu and Kashmir are getting new opportunities to write their own future,” he said.
He also described Jammu and Kashmir as not just a region but the crown of the country and took pride in removing its special status in 2019.
This was PM Modi’s first visit to Kashmir after the Centre abrogating the Article 370 on August 05, 2019 and divided the erstwhile state into two Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Heightened security arrangements made with thousands of security personnel deployed and checkpoints set up across Srinagar ahead of PM Modi’s visit.
During his visit PM Modi remotely inaugurated several developmental projects across Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the Lok Sabha elections - where his government is seeking 3rd consecutive term - slated to be held in April-May this year.
While addressing the gathering, he also extended Ramadan greeting to the people days ahead of start of holy month. “Today, from Kashmir I extend my greeting to the country for the coming Ramadan,” he said. (KNS)