Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti has claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kashmir is primarily aimed at securing support among the BJP’s core constituency across the country ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Mufti also alleged that government employees were “forcibly” mobilized and transported to the prime minister’s event venue to project a positive image following the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
Accusing the government of coercing state employees, Mufti on X (formerly Twitter), 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 own collective disempowerment & humiliation.”
She added, “Stands contrary to earlier visits by previous PMs like Vajpayee ji & Dr Manmohan Singh ji at the peak of insurgency. Common people then thronged to the venues with great enthusiasm & returned with hope in their hearts. But this time Kashmiris know that everything spoken at Bakshi stadium will be to showcase the so called benefits of illegal abrogation of Article 370 akin to putting salt to their wounds. This visit is only meant to address & drum support amongst BJPs core constituency in the rest of India for the upcoming parliament elections.”
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… pic.twitter.com/NJePtET2P9
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) March 7, 2024
During the rally, Prime Minister Modi proclaimed that he has won the hearts of Kashmiris and pledged to persist in efforts to secure their support. “Whenever I came here after 2014, I have always said that I am making all these efforts, to win your hearts, and I am seeing that I have been able to win your hearts. I will keep trying hard. This is Modi’s guarantee,” said Modi.
