Modi in Kashmir: BJP finds new spring in its step as PM impresses valley

Srinagar: Was Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Diwali visit to Kashmir a genuine gesture of concern for the people of the flood-ravaged region or was it his new big pitch for his party before the assembly elections? Whatever the answer, his visit seems to have provided a big boost to BJP’s unit in the state. “His coming to Kashmir on this auspicious day indicts how Kashmir is close to his heart, and he would make sure that lives of people are back on track,” Khalid Jahangir, BJP spokesman for Kashmir, said. Visiting Siachen on Thursday, the first in ten years by any prime minister, Modi said: “India shares the grief of Jammu and Kashmir. The government stands with the people in rehabilitation efforts.” He announced Rs 570 crore for rebuilding homes damaged in the recent floods and Rs 175 crore for renovation of six major hospitals in Kashmir. But what has irked certain political leaders in Kashmir is a hint to bypass the state government by saying the assistance for rebuilding ravaged houses could be given directly to bank accounts of the flood victims. “The government of Jammu and Kashmir had not asked for Rs 750 crore but Rs 45,000 crore. There is a need of massive rehabilitation process in Kashmir, winter is approaching people in Kashmir were expecting a lot from the PM but they are disappointed,” senior National Conference leader, Mehboob Beg, said. [caption id=“attachment_1770051” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his interaction with soldiers in Siachen. PTI[/caption] Political analysts, however, say apart from addressing the domestic constituency PM Modi also wanted to send a signal to Pakistan by visiting Siachen. “He is a smart politician and apart from making a political point in Kashmir, he also tried to send a signal to Pakistan by visiting Siachen were soldiers live in extreme conditions,” Noor Mohmmad Baba, a political scientist based in Kashmir, said. “At the same he would like to repeat in Kashmir what the BJP has achieved in Maharashtra and Haryana, but electoral mathematics doesn’t seem to favour the BJP in its mission 44,” Baba said. The BJP, which has never won a single seat in Muslim majority Kashmir valley, has set its eyes on the five assembly constituencies in Kashmir valley to achieve it mission 44+. It expects to score high in the Jammu region which accounts for 37 seats. But it won’t be easy. The party hopes to benefit from a three-way split in Muslim votes among National Conference, People’s Democratic Party and the Congress in the valley. It is also targeting at least two seats in the Ladakh region. In Kashmir, it is up against the People Democratic Party, which is likely to bag a majority of the 46 seats in the Valley, two in Ladakh and at least 10 seats in Muslim-majority areas of Jammu. That makes the BJP and the PDP two major players on the state. The BJP is expected to replace the Congress as the kingmaker in state politics. “These visits by the prime minister to Kashmir undoubtedly will yield results in favor of BJP in coming assembly elections. It has also helped us in boosting the morale of the party cadre. Our workers are upbeat about the coming elections and we will surprise every regional political party,” state BJP leader Fayaz Ahmed Bhat said. Jehangir, the BJP spokesperson, says the party believes in development and its agenda is clear. The Congress, the NC and the PDP are all set to become history in the coming assembly elections as their misdeeds stand exposed. “You will see it happening in Kashmir in coming assembly elections. The NC and the Congress leaders despite ruling the state for six decades have only built big bungalows and have amassed huge wealth for themselves. Modiji will rebuild Kashmir. These people who are angry wanted to even siphon off this money also,” he said. However, people whose house has collapsed in the floods say they are largely happy if the Centre decides to directly transfer the money into their accounts. “I don’t trust the state government. It would be better if the PM Modi would make sure the money reach’s us directly into our account, but we need it now before the winter starts,” Ghulam Qadir Dar, whose house collapsed in the devastating floods in Bemina told Firstpost.