Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said Jammu and Kashmir is now moving towards overall development after abrogation of Article 370 that was the biggest roadblock in its balanced progress.

Modi was addressing a massive public meeting after inaugurating and laying the foundation stone of projects worth Rs.32,000 crores.

Braving rain and bad weather, thousands of men and women from across the union territory reached the MAM Stadium to listen to Modi.

Modi said; “It is because of the abrogation of Article 370, I have urged the people to help BJP win 370 seats and NDA win 400+ seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.”

“Article 370 was the biggest hurdle in the development of Jammu and Kashmir. The BJP government has removed it and now the UT is moving towards overall balanced development.”

In an indirect attack at the Abdullah and Mufti clans, Modi said J&K has been a victim of dynastic rule for decades and the youth was the biggest victim. The dynasts were only concerned about their families, not about your interests, your families…I am happy that Jammu and Kashmir has now got freedom from this dynastic politics. Women have also got their rights after abrogation of Article 35A that denied basic rights to the womenfolk.

Common people of J&K got assurance of social justice mentioned in the Constitution for the first time after abrogation of Article 370.

Record number of schools, colleges, universities have been established in the country in the last 10 years and in J&K alone, 50 new degree colleges were set up.

“There was a time when schools were burnt, today schools are being decorated. Today, health facilities are improving rapidly in Jammu and Kashmir. Before 2014, there were 4 medical colleges in Jammu and Kashmir, now there are 12 medical colleges”, he said.

Referring to the coming movie ‘Article 370’, Modi said, “I have heard that a film on Article 370 is going to be released this week. It is a good thing as it will help people in getting correct information.”

Dedicating to people the projects related to several sectors including health, education, rail, road, aviation, petroleum, civic infrastructure, etc; Modi said this is the first time in J&K that the government has reached people’s doorstep, this is Modi’s guarantee, he said amid applause from the audience.

Modi said, “In December 2013, when I had participated in BJP’s Lalkar rally here, I raised the question of why educational institutions like IIT and IIM cannot be built in Jammu. We fulfilled those promises and today there is an IIT, IIM and AIIMS in Jammu. That is why people believe Modi ki guarantee yani guarantee pura hone ki guarantee.”

Referring to the days of terrorism, Modi said; “Earlier, only disappointing news of bombs, kidnappings and separation used to come from Jammu and Kashmir, but now Jammu and Kashmir is developing and moving forward. Your dreams of 70 years will be fulfilled by Modi in the coming years.”

Modi said, “The previous governments never respected our soldiers. The Congress government kept lying to soldiers for the past 40 years that they will implement one rank, one pension. It is the BJP government which fulfilled this promise and brought the OROP.”

Modi interacted with beneficiaries of various government schemes as part of the ‘Viksit Bharat Viksit J&K’. These beneficiaries had come from far-flung places of J&K.

Among the new projects, the PM flagged off the first Electric Train in the valley and also the train service between Sangaldan In the Ramban district of Jammu and the Baramulla station in North Kashmir. NC Chief Farooq Abdullah, who is sitting MP from Srinagar, travelled in the inaugural run of the train and praised Modi for its launch.

Speaking on the occasion, Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha said incidents of terrorism have reduced by 75%. Top terrorist commanders have been eliminated. Now the protest calendar is not issued, and stone pelting is now history. Markets, schools, and universities now remain open throughout the year.”

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said; Appeasement politics ended after PM Modi came to power. Kashmiri Pandits, daughters of Jammu and Kashmir, Gujjars, Paharis and others got their rights. After removing Article 370, you proved ‘Modi hai to mumkin hai’…”