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The upcoming Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections have witnessed a fierce escalation of political rhetoric, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading the charge against the Congress party. In a rally held in Doda district, Modi launched a scathing attack on the Congress, drawing a sharp contrast between their purported ideology of ‘Mohabbat ki dukaan’ (Shop of Love) and their actions, which he characterized as peddling ‘Nafrat’ (Hatred). The crux of Modi’s attack stemmed from an incident involving an Indian journalist, Rohit Sharma, who alleged that he was manhandled by Rahul Gandhi’s team in the United States. Sharma claimed he was detained and pressured to delete an interview he conducted with Sam Pitroda, chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress, after he questioned Pitroda about attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh. This incident, according to Modi, epitomized the Congress’ hypocrisy, portraying them as proponents of free speech while engaging in acts of violence against dissenting voices.
Modi also targeted Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge over his remark that BJP leaders would have been in jail had the opposition alliance won 20 more seats in the Lok Sabha polls. Modi questioned the Congress’s agenda, emphasizing that their sole aim seemed to be sending people to jail rather than serving the people. This exchange highlights the growing animosity between the BJP and the Congress, with both sides resorting to strong rhetoric and accusations. The ‘jail’ remark by Kharge, however, is not without context, as it was made at a rally in Anantnag, where he urged supporters to remain united and fight the BJP. He also emphasized the importance of the opposition alliance, calling for a united front to counter the BJP’s dominance.
Beyond the immediate electoral battle, Modi’s attack on Congress also extended to a broader critique of dynastic politics. He accused the Congress, National Conference, and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of perpetuating a system of ‘pariwarwad’ (dynastic politics) that had eroded the fabric of Jammu and Kashmir. This critique targeted the leadership of these parties, accusing them of prioritizing their own families’ interests over the welfare of the people. Notably, Modi’s accusations received immediate pushback from the National Conference, which pointed out the BJP’s previous alliances with both PDP and the National Conference. Omar Abdullah, the Vice President of the National Conference, argued that the BJP’s selective criticism was driven by electoral calculations. This exchange exposes the complexities of regional politics in Jammu and Kashmir, where alliances and rivalries often shift in response to electoral pressures.
The exchanges between Modi and the Congress highlight the heightened stakes in the upcoming Jammu and Kashmir assembly polls. The BJP, under Modi’s leadership, seeks to consolidate its position in the region, capitalizing on the sentiment against dynastic politics and the perception of the Congress as being out of touch with the aspirations of the people. The Congress, on the other hand, seeks to rally support around the idea of an opposition alliance and present itself as a credible alternative to the BJP. While the outcome of these elections remains uncertain, the escalating rhetoric and the focus on dynastic politics suggest that the battle for Jammu and Kashmir will be fierce and closely watched.