Embrace, not bullet, way for Kashmir

Out of new words, Modi renews last year’s rhetoric

JAMMU: In what seemed like a repeat of a repeat of his speech from last year atop the red fort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi maintained that his government will move forward in Jammu and Kashmir by adopting an approach of embracing all and not by 'goli and gaali' (bullet and abuse) in his address to nation on the 72nd Independence Day.

The split between the saffron party and PDP in the state had no impact on Modi as he reemphasized now Late PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s vision on Kashmir-- 'Insaaniyat, Kashmiriyat and Jamhuriyat'—something its estranged political partner has demanded since long, and to its share, Centre has pursued to a fair degree as well, until they parted ways.

Speaking from the ramparts of Red Fort on the 72nd Independence Day on Wednesday, Modi said his government will move ahead in the state by following the path of 'Insaaniyat, Kashmiriyat and Jamhuriyat' as shown by Vajpayee, even as he announced that elections to village panchayats and local bodies in the state would be held in coming months.

He said his government wants to ensure balanced development of the three regions of Jammu and Kashmir - Ladakh, Jammu and the Kashmir Valley - and the communities living there.

The prime minister said the central government is now directly sending funds to villages to ensure speedy development. Through this, he added, elected village heads will get more power to take their areas forward.

"In Jammu and Kashmir, Atal Bihari Vajpayee ji had shown us the path - and that path is right. We want to move forward on that path. Vajpayee ji had said we have to move forward to ensure Kashmir's development on 'Insaaniyat, Kashmiriyat and Jamhuriyat'.

"Be it Ladakh, Jammu or Kashmir Valley, there should be balanced development in the state and hopes and aspirations of common people there should be fulfilled. Infrastructure should be improved and we should move forward with the sentiment of embracing all.

"We want to move forward by embracing the people of Kashmir, who live with great patriotic feelings, and not on the path of 'goli and gaali' (bullet and abuse)," he said.

Modi said irrigation schemes were moving forward in the state and work to set up an IIT, an IIM and an AIIMS and the reconstruction of the famous Dal Lake is also being undertaken.

"In very near future, we are moving forward towards holding panchayat and local body elections," he said, noting that efforts are being made to strengthen democratic institutions in the state.

Modi said people living in villages of Jammu and Kashmir and village heads were meeting him in large numbers, demanding early elections to panchayats and local bodies.

The elections have remained stalled for some reason or the other. The last panchayat polls in Jammu and Kashmir were held in 2011 and the urban local body elections have not been held for nearly eight years.

"I am happy to say that in coming months, people of Jammu and Kashmir will get an opportunity to exercise their right and set up their own system," the prime minister said.

In Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra said the urban local body and panchayat polls will be held from September. He said elections to urban local bodies will take place in September-October while the phased panchayat polls will be held in October-December.