SRINAGAR: The political parties in Jammu and Kashmir have stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Srinagar speech did not offer anything that could make it impressive. They said it was “rhetoric” and sounded like an election rally as it skipped the major issues confronting Jammu and Kashmir.
Ravinder Sharma, Congress’s Senior Vice-President said the people were pinning hopes on the Prime Minister touching issues of concern. However, he said, there was no mention of them and it included the restoration of democracy in the erstwhile state.
Sharma termed the speech “old rhetoric” targeting the Opposition, especially those with whom BJP enjoyed power in the past.
It was almost the same as what the Jammu Kashmir National Conference said in the day. Party General Secretary Ali Muhammad Sagar said the high-profile visit was disappointing.
“It is the same worn-out rhetoric that Jammu and Kashmir has been hearing for the past five years, yet there’s still a lack of confidence in holding elections,” Sagar said in a statement. “People were eagerly awaiting announcements regarding statehood, a promise of a democratically elected government by September, job packages for the unemployed, relief from the power crisis, and major development projects. Unfortunately, none of these expectations were met. Instead, they were presented with recycled projects. Young entrepreneurs, who have succeeded through their own efforts, were exploited in the name of Viksit Bharat.”
Sagar termed the speech “juggling numbers” and “rebranding old projects”. He pointed out, “It’s disappointing that there was no mention of the return of Kashmir pundits, who have been at the forefront of the BJP’s petty politics.”
Interestingly, the visit triggered a huge controversy as the government ensured the participation of employees from across Kashmir. Prime Minister said in his speech that he has been told that one lakh people are attending the rally.
“Thousands of poor daily wage workers from various departments, who travelled from distant parts of Jammu and Kashmir, were hoping for regularisation but left disheartened,” Sagar said. “Employees were compelled to attend the function, and there are reports that even ill employees, including pregnant women, were required to attend without exception.”
“The administration, at all levels, is operating akin to BJP Parachraks,” Communist leader, Yousuf Tarigmai wrote on Twitter, now X. “The forced mobilisation of employees and other sections of the society, including the beneficiaries of various schemes, for the PM’s rally is bound to contribute to both Dilli ki doori and Dil Ki doori. Moreover, this approach is poised to subvert the democratic and legitimate rights of the people further.”
The issue of alleged coercion on government employees was revealed by Omar Abdullah last night. Abdullah took to social media, sharing a redacted document purportedly listing government employees who are being compelled to gather as early as 4:30 am amidst freezing temperatures to be transported to the rally venue by buses. The document allegedly indicates that department heads are threatening disciplinary action against those who fail to comply.
“The dictatorial JK Govt has pulled out all stops to give the PM a crowd because the BJP can’t manage anything in J&K without the administration,” Abdullah expressed in a post, implying that the administration’s move aims to fabricate support for the Prime Minister. Abdullah further asserted that private schools, including notable institutions like DPS, have been instructed to provide their buses to ferry employees to the rally.
“Tomorrow the godi media & agencies will be gushing about the “historic crowd” gathered to hear PM Modi in Srinagar. What they will conveniently forget to mention is that almost none of the people there will be attending of their own free will,” Omar added.
Earlier in the day, Omar’s successor Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti shared a picture with a post on X. “Government employees are being herded at 5 am in sub-zero temperatures into vehicles at Budgam bus stand ferrying them to the PM’s rally. Disheartening to see employees being forcibly mobilised to paint a pretty picture that all is well post-2019 & that people here are celebrating their own collective disempowerment & humiliation,” she wrote on Twitter. “Stands contrary to earlier visits by previous PMs like Vajpayee ji & Dr Manmohan Singh ji at the peak of insurgency. Common people then thronged to the venues with great enthusiasm & returned with hope in their hearts. But this time Kashmiris know that everything spoken at Bakshi stadium will be to showcase the so-called benefits of illegal abrogation of Article 370 akin to putting salt to their wounds. This visit is only meant to address & drum support amongst BJP’s core constituency in the rest of India for the upcoming parliament elections.”
Interestingly, her daughter, Iltija shared a brief video clip of an Anganwari worker claiming they were driven at 3 am to Srinagar and were not given either breakfast or lunch. The lady was showing a piece of bride which she claimed was divided into 10 pieces by the workers bused to the event by their department.
However, BJP’s Devender Singh Rana termed the visit “a historic milestone” in the region’s journey towards prosperity and peace. “The historic visit of Yashasvi Narendra Modi is reflective of the people’s faith in his leadership”, Rana said at the sidelines of the inauguration of the state-of-the-art chamber of Vinay Jamwal Chartered Accountant here this evening. He exuded confidence that the initiatives taken by the Government, especially post abrogation of Article 370 have hugely transformed Jammu and Kashmir, which has ushered in an era of peace, progress, prosperity, economic resurgence, equitable empowerment, social justice and unprecedented inclusive development.
