He said, “Following the expectations of the people, our government shows its performance and brings results. Based on this performance, for the third time after 60 years, a government has received the mandate in our country. The biggest message of the mandate received in the Lok Sabha elections is of stability.”
The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won a majority for the third time in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, winning 293 seats. The BJP won 240 seats on its own, in the 543-member lower house, where the majority mark stands at 272.
While addressing the conference in Srinagar, PM Modi targeted the previous governments and said, “The last decade of the last century has seen a long period of unstable governments…Elections were held five times in 10 years. That means the country kept conducting elections and there was nothing else to do. Due to this instability, and uncertainty, when it was time for India to take off, we became grounded, and we suffered a lot.”
He added further, “Leaving that period behind, now India has entered a new era of stable government. This has strengthened our democracy. Jammu and Kashmir have played a very big role in strengthening democracy…”
The remarks of the Prime Minister came while he was addressing the Empowering Youth, Transforming Jammu and Kashmir Programme amidst his two-day visit to Srinagar to participate in International Yoga Day.
The Prime Minister also talked about the vision of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s vision related to Jammu and kashmir and said, “We are witnessing Atal ji’s vision of Insaniyat (humanity), Jamhooriyat (democracy) aur Kashmiriyat, turning into a reality today.”
Mentioning record voter turnout in the recent elections, the Prime Minister said. “You have broken the record of the last 35-40 years. You have made democracy win in this election. I have come to express my thanks for your efforts to keep the flag of democracy high.”
PM Modi also said “time is not far” when the people of Jammu and Kashmir will elect a new government in assembly polls and indicated that statehood will be resorted soon to the union territory.
“The people of Jammu and Kashmir elect their representatives at the local level, through them you find ways to solve problems, what can be better than this? Therefore, now the preparations for the Assembly elections have also started. The time is not far when you will elect the new government of Jammu and Kashmir with your votes. That day will also come soon, when Jammu and Kashmir will once again make its future better as a state,” he said.
In his address, PM Modi also announced about 84 major developmental projects valued at more than Rs 1,500 crore were inaugurated on Thursday.
“Projects related to the agriculture sector worth Rs 1800 crore were inaugurated. New national highways and expressways are being constructed here. Every Indian feels proud when they see pictures of the world’s highest bridge on the river Chenab,” he said.
Hailing the progress in Kashmir, the Prime Minister said that the Kashmir valley is witnessing major development works on almost every front, including rail connectivity, education, health infrastructure, electricity and water.
He said, “Thousands of kilometres of roads have been built under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojna, and along with new highways and expressways, the valley is also going to be connected with railways. The alluring view of the Chenab railway bridge fills everyone with pride.”
He added further, “The Gurez Valley in north Kashmir gained access to grid connectivity for the first time. The valley is brimming with opportunities in every field, from agriculture to horticulture to sports and start-ups.”
Hailing the development that has taken place in Kashmir in the last 10 years, the Prime Minister said that the valley is emerging as a major hub of start-ups, skill development and sports and pointed out that almost 70 per cent of the valley’s agricultural sectors comprise start-ups.
The Prime Minister also talked about the establishment of educational institutions and said, “Seats in polytechnics have increased, and opportunities to learn new skills. IIT, IIM, and AIIMS are being built along with many new medical colleges have been built.”
On the latest spate of terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir, PM Modi asserted that the government will teach a lesson to the enemies of the Union Territory.
He said, “This is their last ditch effort to stop the development of Jammu and Kashmir, to ensure that peace is not established here.”
He added, “The government has taken the recent terror attacks very seriously. The Union Home Minister has chaired a meeting with the officials of Jammu and Kashmir to review them. I assure you that we will not hesitate to teach a lesson to the enemies of Jammu and Kashmir.
The new generation of Jammu and Kashmir will live with permanent peace. We will strengthen the path of progress chosen by Jammu and Kashmir.”
PM Modi arrived in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday for a two-day visit.
This is PM Modi’s first visit to Jammu and Kashmir after taking oath as Prime Minister for a third straight term. On June 21, Prime Minister Modi will lead the International Yoga Day celebrations at SKICC, Srinagar.
Since 2015, the Prime Minister has led the International Day of Yoga (IDY) celebrations at various iconic locations, including Kartavya Path in Delhi, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Ranchi, Lucknow, Mysuru and even the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
This year’s theme, “Yoga for Self and Society,” highlights the dual role of yoga in fostering individual and societal well-being. The event will encourage grassroots participation and the spread of yoga in rural areas.
