Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressing his first poll rally in Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the upcoming elections, highlighted his government’s efforts to bring peace and development to the region. He criticized the “most corrupt” Congress and other dynastic parties like the NC and the PDP for depriving people of their rights and allowing terrorism to flourish.

Speaking at the rally in Doda district, the PM said, “The Congress is the most dishonest and misleading political party in the country. And its ‘Royal Family’ (the Gandhis) is the most corrupt political family in the country.”

“The petty politics and mean thinking of the Congress leaders became clear during the Congress President’s (Mallikarjun Kharge) visit to J&K recently. He said if their party had 20 more seats in the Lok Sabha, they would put BJP leaders, including Modi, in jail. In 2014, 2019, and 2024, after 60 years, the country’s people have three times given us an opportunity to serve them. We run the government to crush corruption and for the welfare of the common man. Whenever there is no positive approach, they have no agenda but to put people in jail. They should have talked about J&K’s welfare but only discussed sending people to jail,” he said.

PM Modi acknowledged the gathering’s high level of enthusiasm. “I am seeing that our sisters and daughters have come in such large numbers to bless us. I am highly grateful to you. Your love and blessing will be returned threefold by me by working harder for the country. We together will make a safe and prosperous J&K. This is Modi’s guarantee,” he said.

Attacking the dynastic parties, he stated: “The political parties you trusted did not care for your children. They did everything for their own children. These people never allowed new leadership to emerge. You know that after 2000, there were no Panchayat elections. No DDC polls were held. These dynastic families never allowed talented youth to come forward.”

“In 2014, after coming to power, I tried to empower the local youth. Panchayat and urban bodies elections were held so that democracy reached the grassroots level and youth came forward. After local bodies elections, 30-35,000 youth stepped up and took the reins of power into their own hands. The development that took place here during the last 20 years owes itself to these youth. Today I salute the enthusiasm of youth, whether male or female.”

PM Modi described the elections as a battle between three families—the Congress, the NC, and the PDP—and the young generation of J&K who have dreams of a better future. “In J&K, these three families have committed a sin against the people. These families encouraged and patronized land encroachers, forcing people to beg even for routine facilities. Only those who were close to these three families had government employment. This created conditions for separation and violence, exploited by the country’s enemies.”

He continued, “This region (Chenab Valley) witnessed the worst period of violence. Even before sunset, undeclared curfew would begin. All businesses and life activities would shut down.”

“Today, terrorism is on its last legs. Stones thrown at police are now used to build the ‘Naya Kashmir’. Who has done all this? Not Modi alone, but all this has been achieved by the people of Doda and other places.”

The Prime Minister recalled the promise to remember Tikka Lal Taploo, who was killed by terrorists three decades ago, along with the terror unleashed on the Kashmiri Pandit community. “I commend the J&K BJP for promising the Tikka Lal Taploo scheme to give Kashmiri Pandits their rights.”

He added, “Our daughter, (BJP’s Doda candidate) Shagun Parihar’s father and uncle were killed by terrorists. We have fielded her here. She is not just our candidate, but a living example of the BJP’s resolve to end terrorism.”

He criticized the parties that ruled J&K for decades for neglecting the future of the people’s children. “Modi is worried about you and the future of your children. All children should get an education and move forward. We opened new schools and colleges here. We opened a medical college in Doda.”

“In our manifesto, we have announced the Pandit Prem Nath Dogra employment scheme. We will make this region a heaven for tourists. I am told that film shooting in Doda did not take place after terrorism. We promise to change this so that film units not only from the country but also from abroad, come here. We have announced a new film policy. J&K will dominate films in India and the rest of the world,” the PM said.

On the key demand, PM Modi assured that his BJP would grant statehood to J&K, “but be careful of those who, for their benefit, deprived you