Mending fences with the people of Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the Union Territory is touching new heights of development and breathing freely after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.

The Valley, along with Jammu and Ladakh, will exercise its franchise for the first time in mainstream elections this Lok Sabha since the Abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.  All political parties, national to regional, from the BJP to the Congress, the National Conference to the PDP,  are bracing up for a tough contest,  a litmus test that would indicate which way the people of region think and vote. While the BJP is putting up an indomitable face along with its allies, its regional rivals like the NC and PDP are already a part of the Congress initiated INDIA Bloc.

The Congress and the NC alliance defeated the BJP in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Council elections in Kargil, touted as the first-ever poll held in J&K after Article 370 was scrapped in 2019.

"We, the political parties and the voters of the region are eagerly waiting for the first litmus test of political rivals after Article 370  was scrapped as each of them has ruled the State at some point single handedly or as alliance partners," said Sanjiv Singh, AICC secretary.

On his arrival at the highly fortified Bakshi stadium in Srinagar, the Prime Minister was accorded a warm welcome by the cheering crowd. A large number of Kashmiris were seen wearing ‘Modi’ masks and chanting slogans in the audience. Hundreds of BJP supporters, wearing tricolour turbans, also reached the venue while security personnel had a tough time managing the crowd.

During his half-hour-long speech, the Prime Minister ‘purposefully’ avoided making any reference to the issue of granting ‘Statehood’ to Jammu and Kashmir and holding Assembly polls to elect a popular Government.

The last time Modi visited Kashmir was in February 2019.

On ground zero several mainstream political parties in the valley were keenly awaiting a categorical statement from the Prime Minister as J&K has not had an elected Government since 2018.

Batting in support of the development-oriented agenda of his Government, the Prime Minister also described Jammu and Kashmir as the ‘crown of India’ claiming its success story will be the centre of attraction for the world.

The Prime Minister also took a swipe at his rivals, accusing the Congress and its allies — including J&K’s National Conference and the Peoples’ Democratic Party — of misleading people for political gain.

“For decades, for political gains, the Congress and its allies misled people in the name of 370. But today there are equal rights and opportunities for all. The people know the truth... they were misled.”

Pointing out that Jammu and Kashmir has been the biggest victim of dynastic politics since Independence, the Prime Minister assured the people that the development campaign for Jammu and Kashmir will not stop at any cost and the region will develop more rapidly in the next five years.

“This is the new Jammu and Kashmir for which we all were waiting for many decades. This is the new Jammu and Kashmir, for which Dr Syama Prasad Mukherjee sacrificed his life,” the Prime Minister said.

“There is a sparkle of the future in the eyes of this new Jammu and Kashmir... there is courage in the intentions of this new Jammu and Kashmir to overcome the challenges,” he continued.

On the occasion, the Prime Minister also extended his “advance wishes” for the upcoming holy month of Ramzan and Maha Shivratri, which falls on Friday.

Modi flagged off projects worth over Rs 6,400 from Srinagar’s Bakshi stadium and also distributed appointment letters to nearly 1,000 newly recruited Government employees in J&K. Modi also interacted with beneficiaries of various Government schemes including women achievers, lakhpati didis, farmers, entrepreneurs etc.

Highlighting his future vision for J&K, Modi said, “Now, my next mission is ‘Wed in India’. People should come to J&K and host their weddings... The world has seen how G20 was organised in J&K. There was a time when people used to say, who will go to J&K for tourism? Today, tourism in J&K is breaking all the records. In 2023, more than 2 crore tourists have come here... Now, even big celebrities from across the world are coming to Kashmir.”

Expressing his gratitude for the affection of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the Prime Minister said “Modi will not leave any stone unturned to repay this debt of affection. I am doing all this hard work to win your hearts and I believe that I am on the right path. I will continue my efforts to win your hearts. This is Modi’s guarantee and all of you know that Modi’s Guarantee means the guarantee of fulfillment of guarantee”.

Reacting to the Prime Minister’s speech, the Jammu and Kashmir National Conference in a statement said, “The Prime Minister’s visit and speech have left many disappointed. It’s 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. 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.”

Former Chief Minister and Chief of Peoples Democratic Party Mehbooba Mufti claimed the Government employees were forcibly mobilised to paint a pretty picture that all is well post-2019.  In a tweet, Mehbooba said, “Government employees are being herded at five 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 collective disempowerment & humiliation. Stands contrary to earlier visits by previous PMs like Vajpayee & Dr Manmohan Singh at the peak of insurgency.”|

On his last visit to J&K, the Prime Minister launched multiple development projects - including those for education, railway, aviation and transport - worth over Rs 32,000 crore at MA stadium in Jammu.

Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir,  Manoj Sinha,  Union Minister of State, Dr Jitendra Singh and Rajya Sabha MP Ghulam Ali Khatana were present on the occasion among others.

The Jammu and Kashmir unit of the Congress party also reacted strongly to the visit of the Prime Minister. JKPCC senior vice president and incharge media Ravinder Sharma in a statement said, “ Modi has disappointed the people of Jammu & Kashmir by not announcing the restoration of Statehood & avoiding the core issues of restoration of democracy, snatching of land & job rights, record unemployment and unprecedented price rise, tax Terrorism, issues of daily wagers and other temporary employees and various such categories who had pinned hopes on his visit.”