“They Allowed Our Waters to Flow Across the Border”: PM Modi Slams Congress and NC

GG News Bureau
Katra, 19th Sept. In a scathing attack at the Congress and National Conference (NC), Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday condemned their historical negligence towards Jammu and Kashmir’s water resources. Speaking at an election rally in support of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for the newly-created Assembly segment of Mata Vaishno Devi, Modi accused the previous governments of failing to construct essential dams that could have greatly benefited local farmers.

Modi asserted that for seven decades, Congress and NC allowed India’s waters to flow across the border without harnessing them for regional development. “The Shahpur Kandi dam project was left untouched for years, resulting in thousands of hectares of land in Jammu becoming unproductive,” he said. He emphasized that under BJP governance, the region has seen significant improvements, including the rapid progress on four hydro-power projects—Pakal Dul, Kiru, Ratle, and Kwar—which are set to enhance power availability and create employment opportunities.

The Prime Minister also highlighted the completion of the Chenab rail bridge, a project initiated by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government but stalled by the previous parties. He praised the BJP for its successful completion of the 1.3-km bridge, which is higher than the Eiffel Tower and a vital link in the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL) project. Modi noted that this infrastructure feat has brought global attention to the region.

Modi also pointed to improved road and rail connectivity, which has bolstered tourism in Jammu and Kashmir. He cited the record number of visitors—two crore tourists and 95 lakh pilgrims to the Vaishno Devi shrine last year—as evidence of the positive impact of these developments. The Prime Minister reiterated the BJP’s commitment to further boosting tourism through ongoing projects like the Devika and Tawi riverfronts.

In closing, Modi praised the achievements of Indian Paralympic medallists Sheetal and Rakesh, who trained in Katra, and assured that the BJP would continue to utilize available opportunities to further develop Jammu and Kashmir. He urged voters to support his party to ensure continued progress in the region.