Modi plays regional card in Jammu

Battle of states: 'Region denied rightful share of development'

To boost the chances of the BJP in the last phase of Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday played the regional card saying there is a feeling among the people of Jammu that they have been discriminated against and have not been given their rightful share in development.

During the last leg of his campaign, he said Jammu region has long been neglected by successive state governments. “Time has come for the people of Jammu to give a befitting reply to the exploiters of the past and ensure they do not get a single seat from among the 20 that will go to the polls December 20,” Modi said while addressing a huge election rally at MA Stadium in Jammu.

He blamed the family rule of the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party for the feeling of discrimination in Jammu. “The party (Congress) has always misled the people of Jammu, and used their support to join all governments in the state. I urge the people not to allow the Congress, NC or the PDP to win even a single seat from the Jammu region,” Modi said.

The prime minister hit out at Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s statement on Monday that the BJP would draw a blank in the Kashmir Valley.

“Does it suit these parties to speak of a regional divide in terms of Kashmir and Jammu region? I must tell these leaders that the people of all regions of Jammu and Kashmir have decided in favour of change.”

He criticised the NC, PDP and the Congress for ‘attempting’ to separate Jammu and Kashmir regions.

Earlier, while addressing another election rally in Kathua district of Jammu region, he alleged that “Injustice and discrimination are embedded in their (Congress) DNA as they always work on an agenda to have a weak government in Jammu and Kashmir. They work for a fractured mandate so that they can offer their support and take benefit after becoming a part of the government in the state,” Modi alleged.

He urged the people to elect the BJP with a full majority in Jammu and Kashmir. This was Modi’s fifth visit to Jammu and Kashmir after the poll schedule was announced.

Twenty constituencies in Jammu, Kathua and Rajouri districts of Jammu region will vote on December 20 in the fifth and final phase of the Assembly elections, results of which would be declared on December 23.