'Modi wave' sweeps Jammu youth off their feet

 With polling for Jammu-Poonch parliamentary seat just five days away, Modi charisma is sweeping across Jammu city especially among youth. The youth in the city of temples believe BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is the only leader in India today capable of leading the nation forward in the 21st century.

“Modi has come up with a comprehensive programme for development which Congress has failed to do. Youth want development and there is no better choice than Modi at the moment,” Rahul Malhotra, who deals with computer hardware, told Deccan Herald.

Malhotra, in his late twenties, believes that Modi as prime minister will be the best remedy for an ‘economically and socially ailing nation.’ “There is no politician who can match Modi in business sense and it would be utter stupidity to ignore him and bet on Rahul Gandhi. Congress has been ruling the country for decades but has failed to offer anything to people especially youth,” he said. “I won’t be voting for BJP but for Modi as his name is synonymous with growth, development and prosperity,” he added.
Pooja Sharma, a university student, is also of the same view. “I will be voting for the first time in life. I believe Modi is the only leader who has the stature and the qualities to guide the nation towards progress and prosperity,” she said.

“Modi has proved in Gujarat that it is possible to rule and progress and that too without corruption and nepotism,” she said and added nobody votes in the name of religion now.

“Ram Mandir or Babri Masjid won’t give employment and other necessities of life to people. Narendra Modi has never raked up such issues and he has won three consecutive elections in Gujarat just in the name of development,” Pooja added.
However, there are certain indecisive voters who say they will take a call whether to vote for Modi or not when they reach polling booths. “I haven’t decided yet whether to vote for Modi or not. I will take a decision on the day of polling. Till then I will keenly observe the manifestos of both BJP and Congress,” said Ajay Kumar, who works with a travel agency.

The Jammu-Poonch parliamentary seat, with its 1.76 million voters, is the largest among the six Lok Sabha constituencies in the state. Congress has won the seat eight times previously. But Modi factor could give a renewed boost to BJP candidate Jugal Kishore Sharma this time.