Prime Minister Narendra Modi exhorted the people of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday to bring the Bharatiya Janata Party to power in the Assembly with a clear majority to take the State on the path of development.
The second phase of the election in the State is on December 2.
Addressing a massive rally in Udhampur, Mr. Modi skipped controversial issues such as the abrogation of Article 370 and focussed instead on development, tourism and corruption.
“For the past 30 years, Jammu and Kashmir is making no progress,” Mr. Modi said. “If I do not bring development in five years, you can hold me accountable for it and question me.”
He congratulated the people for the massive turnout in the first phase of election on November 25.
“Militants are frustrated because they are feeling that despite the use of guns and bombs and killing people, democracy is still alive in this State,” the Prime Minister told the crowd.
Mr. Modi took potshots at the major regional parties in the State, accusing them of corruption and filling their coffers with the money given by the Union government.
“That is why I have tightened the screws and that is why both those in power in the State and in the Opposition are criticising me. Because Modi has become a roadblock in their plan of looting the money and sharing the spoils,” he said.