Modi Criticizes Dynastic Politics: Accuses Congress, NC, and PDP of Undermining Jammu and Kashmir
New Delhi, 14th September 2024: On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sharply criticized the Congress, National Conference (NC), and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing these “three political families” of undermining Jammu and Kashmir through dynastic rule. Speaking at a rally in Doda, Modi stated, “This election in Jammu and Kashmir is between these three families and the region’s youth. The harm these families have caused is substantial and deeply damaging.”
Modi highlighted the failure of these dynastic parties to promote new leadership, noting his efforts since 2014 to encourage younger leaders. He cited the introduction of Panchayat elections in 2018, BDC elections in 2019, and DDC elections in 2020 as steps to deepen democracy at the grassroots level.
The Prime Minister further criticized the dynastic politics for weakening the state from within, claiming that foreign powers and these political families have hollowed out Jammu and Kashmir. “The dynastic parties only advanced their children, preventing new leadership from emerging,” Modi added.
He also mocked former Union Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde’s admission of fear during his tenure under the UPA-II regime, recalling the period when even the Home Minister was hesitant to visit Jammu and Kashmir’s Lal Chowk. Modi remarked, “Remember when an unofficial curfew would start at sunset? Even Congress’s Home Minister feared going to Lal Chowk.”
These are the first assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370. The region has 90 Assembly constituencies, including 7 reserved for SCs and 9 for STs. The Election Commission of India lists 88.06 lakh eligible voters. In the last Assembly elections, the PDP won 28 seats, BJP secured 25, NC won 15, and Congress took 12.
