Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday, April 12, that assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir would be conducted soon, alongside the restoration of statehood.
The significant statement comes ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections that are scheduled to commence from April 19.
Addressing an election rally in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur, the Prime Minister said that he envisions a “wonderful picture of new Jammu and Kashmir”.
“Modi thinks far ahead. So what has happened so far is just the trailer. I have to get busy in creating a new and wonderful picture of the new Jammu and Kashmir. The time is not far when Assembly Elections will be held in Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir will get the status of statehood. You will be able to share your dreams with your MLA and your ministers…,” the PM said.
PM Modi said that the upcoming Lok Sabha polls will take place in Jammu and Kashmir without the fear of terrorism, strikes, stone-pelting and cross-border firing.
“After decades, this election is happening without the fear of terrorism, separatism, stone-pelting, strikes and cross-border terrorism, which are no more election issues. There used to be a concern regarding the security of the Vaishno Devi and Amarnath pilgrimages, but the (security) situation has changed altogether. Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing development and the people’s faith in the government is getting strengthened,” he said.
The Prime Minister also slammed the Congress and the INDIA alliance saying that they do not care about the sentiments of the majority of the people of the country and only enjoy playing with the sentiments.
Denying Congress’ claims that Ram Mandir is an election issue for BJP, PM Modi said it was never an election issue. “The struggle for Ram temple was going on even before the birth of the BJP. When foreign invaders destroyed our temples, the people of India fought to save their religious places. The leaders of Congress and its allies lived in big bungalows but when it came to changing the tent of Ram Lalla, they used to turn their backs,” he said.
Jammu and Kashmir Lok Sabha election date
Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir will be held in five phases. The five Lok Sabha seats that will go to polls in Lok Sabha elections 2024 in five phases are: Baramulla, Srinagar, Anantnag-Rajouri, Udhampur and Jammu.
