Sweeping winds of change visible in J&K: Modi

Hira Nagar (Kathua), March 26 (IANS) The sweeping winds of change are already visible in Jammu and Kashmir, said BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi Wednesday as he launched his party's poll campaign in the state.

Modi, who is a star campaigner of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said: "I am proud to begin the BJP poll campaign from a land where people have laid down their lives for the country."

"The sweeping winds of change are already visible in Jammu and Kashmir," he said.

Modi added: "It is our duty to carry forward the roadmap and take to logical conclusion Atal Bihari Vajpayee's plan of `Insaniyat', `Jumhuriyat' and `Kashmiriyat'.

"...our crusade is for victory over rising prices, our crusade is against unemployment, against circumstances leading to suicides by farmers and for India's victory over other ills."

He went on to say that "it has now been 30 to 32 years since this land has been painted red with blood by the terrorists aided and abated through cross border terrorism".

"They have not only killed people, but also attacked 'Kashmiriyat' (eclectic culture of the state) and 'Insaniyat' (humanity)."

Modi asked people to loudly reply to his question whether or not they want employment for the youth, dignity for women and two square meals for the poor?

"Should after 65 years of Independence, the poor of this country continue to be denied two square meals?

"We want brotherhood and India's unity and for that I have to sweat for 18 hours a day to try and wipe out tears from the eyes of the poorest of the poor."

Modi announced that if the BJP comes to power, the refugees who have come to Jammu from Pakistan in 1947 and during the India-Pakistan war of 1965 would be given citizenship rights in J&K.

At present, hundreds of these families are living in various places in Jammu region, but they do not have citizenship rights in the state.

In a dig at the Congress leadership, he said: "These people are unable to do that kind of hard work. Dynastic rule is the biggest enemy of democracy."

"Both J&K and the rest of India have to be rid of this dynastic rule," Modi told the largely attended public rally here.

He said that during the Congress rule, "lathi wielding jawans of the police are killed by the terrorists and farmers are committing suicide in the country. What worse commentary can there be on the Congress rule than this?"

Modi also said there were three AK's which were posing serious threat to the country.

"These are AK-47 used by the terrorists who shed Indian blood through these weapons.

"Then there is A.K. Antony the defence minister who says Indian soldiers were beheaded by persons wearing uniforms of Pakistan army when the army said clearly the soldiers were beheaded by Pakistan armymen.

"The latest in AK threats is AK 49", a dig at the Aam Aadmi Party led by Arvind Kejriwal who governed Delhi for 49 days.

"We have to work to liberate Indian from these AKs," he said as the gathering loudly cheered.