‘Terror breathing its last’: PM Modi raises J&K poll pitch

On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi claimed that terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir is nearing its end as he launched his first rally for the UT’s election campaign, launching a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) opponents. Modi accused these rivals of prioritizing their family interests over public welfare.

Speaking to a crowd in Doda district, Modi stated that the BJP's rise to power at the Centre has pushed terrorism to the fringes in J&K. He recalled a time when shops would shut at sunset and Congress home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde reportedly feared visiting Lal Chowk.

Modi’s comments referenced Shinde’s past admission of apprehension while visiting the Valley during his tenure. He highlighted the dramatic change over the past decade, suggesting that while stones once thrown at security forces are now being used for rebuilding J&K, the region's progress is evident.

These remarks come amid recent violence, including the killing of two soldiers in a terror attack near the rally venue and a subsequent encounter in Baramulla that resulted in the deaths of three terrorists.

National Conference (NC) vice president and former J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah countered Modi’s claims, arguing that the security situation has worsened over the past decade. Abdullah cited recent attacks and ongoing encounters as evidence of deteriorating conditions.

Jammu & Kashmir is preparing for its first assembly elections in ten years, scheduled in three phases on September 18, 25, and October 1. Security concerns are a major focus of the electoral debate. The first phase will cover eight constituencies in Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban in Jammu, and 16 constituencies in Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian, and Kulgam in South Kashmir.

Modi also targeted the Congress, NC, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing them of fostering separatism and terrorism to serve their dynastic interests. He asserted that these parties—represented by the Gandhis, Abdullahs, and Muftis—have only advanced their personal ambitions while enabling terrorism in J&K.

He further criticized the opposition for wanting to reinstate Article 370, arguing that doing so would reverse progress and return the region to turmoil. Modi emphasized that the BJP has focused on empowering new leadership and promoting grassroots democracy, citing recent local elections as evidence of this commitment.

Omar Abdullah responded by accusing Modi of using "dynastic politics rhetoric" to distract from the real issues. He noted that when the BJP sought support from these families, they did not criticize them, and suggested that any future alliance with PDP would similarly be overlooked.

In his rally, Modi reaffirmed the BJP’s commitment to restoring J&K’s statehood, urging caution against those who, according to him, have historically undermined the region's rights. He promised that full statehood would be reinstated under a BJP government, while Congress’s J&K unit dismissed Modi’s statements as empty promises, citing ongoing national challenges like unemployment and inflation as evidence of the BJP’s failure.