Nadda said that it is the first electios after the abrogation of Article 370 where representatives of Kashmiri Pandits (KPs) and Pakistan-Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) will be part of the legislative assembly.
Speaking at a press conference at the BJP media center in Jammu, Nadda said, “The BJP is fighting this Assembly election to free the people of J&K from the clutches of three families,” referring to the Abdullahs, Muftis, and Gandhis. He criticized the National Conference (NC) and Congress for historically ignoring Jammu and treating the region with “step-motherly” neglect.
Nadda noted the substantial voter turnout in the first two phases of the election, asserting that it signals Kashmir’s youth are now fully aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s development agenda. He further expressed confidence that the BJP is poised to form the next government in J&K. He further emphasised that this marks a significant shift, with Kashmiri youth opting for ballots over bullets.
Accusing the Congress and NC of “hurting the sentiments of Dogras” by exiling Maharaja Hari Singh, Nadda said the BJP had corrected this historical wrong by declaring a public holiday on the Maharaja’s birthday. “We gave Jammu justice, something NC and Congress never considered,” Nadda remarked, adding that the BJP-led government had increased Jammu’s Assembly seats from 37 to 43.
Listing the BJP’s achievements, Nadda highlighted the construction of 1,800 kilometers of roads in Jammu’s peripheral regions, the completion of the Chenani-Nashri Tunnel, the ongoing Jammu-Poonch road project, and the strengthening of the rail network. Post-Article 370 abrogation, Jammu has also emerged as a hub for premier institutions like AIIMS, IIM, and IIT, he added.
He praised the peaceful conduct of the first two election phases, noting that no incidents of violence were reported. “This is a historic occasion when people have rejected the bullet and chosen the ballot,” Nadda said, adding that the elections show faith in Modi’s policies and development plans. He also shared that ambassadors from 16 nations had expressed satisfaction over the peaceful execution of the elections.
Highlighting a drop in terrorism, Nadda stated that before Article 370’s abrogation, 300 to 400 terrorists were announced annually, but in the last nine months, only four have been identified. Jammu, which once experienced frequent bandhs, has seen none in the past five years, he added.
In a scathing attack on the NC and Congress, Nadda accused them of aligning with terrorist sympathizers. “NC says it will release terrorists, and Congress is backing this. Pakistan’s Defense Minister even acknowledged that their presence in Kashmir is because of NC and Congress,” he said.
Union Minister G Krishna Reddy, BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh, former Deputy Chief Ministers Kavinder Gupta and Dr. Nirmal Singh, BJP Working President Sat Sharma, and BJP National Secretary and Jammu South candidate Dr. Narinder Singh Raina were also present at the press conference.
