Arun Joshi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled his agenda beyond the abrogation of Article 370 on Thursday when he declared that he wanted to win hearts of Kashmiris and gain more space in their hearts for himself, in a tone that touched an emotional chord with thousands of people who had come to hear him in Bakshi Stadium, Srinagar.
Modi, whose Thursday’s visit to Srinagar was the first since abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian constitution in August 2019, made a passionate and emotional statement of “winning hearts”, beyond the infrastructural and connectivity development. He sought to convey to the people of Kashmir that he would do everything that would connect them and their hearts with him, mataphor9cally speaking with him on the initiatives that he had taken in the post-Article 370 abrogation period.
“I want to win your hearts. I want to win more and more hearts. This is Modi’s guarantee, and you know that the translation of Modi’s guarantee means fulfilment of promises that Modi makes.,” Prime Minister told audience of thousands of Kashmiris who had descended on the stadium from all parts of the Valley.
This statement of winning hearts”, and including it in Modi’s guarantee, a commitment that is linked to the fulfilment of all the promises that he makes during his rallies and public events, traveled a step further as there always is a talk of the emotional connect and dialogue with the people of Kashmir. This had assumed significance after the abrogation of Article 370 that brought Jammu and Kashmir under one constitution like the rest of the country. J&K had its own constitution, and fag, symbols of its semi-autonomous status. The abrogation of this Article was seen as lifting of all barriers between the citizens in other states and union territories and Jammu and Kashmir. Within minutes after the abrogation of Article 370, the nation had embraced this narrative as they thought and believed that Kashmir was their own and pure Indian territory. However, in certain sections of Kashmiris the abrogation of Article 370 was seen an interpreted as an onslaught on their identity. It had also given rise to fears of the demographic change in the valley. The clashing narratives on political landscape had created a void. This is what Prime Minister wanted to fill. He linked his emotions to the people of Kashmir whom he called part of “Modi ka Parivar”- Modi’s family, a rebuke he has chosen for those taunting him for having no family. “ All the 140 crore people of the country are my family .”
Modi, however, did not miss the chance to explain the right to equality and opportunities in Kashmir ever since the abrogation of Article 370 , claiming that not only the world is opening to the Valley as it is crown of India , but to the freedom from fear that had crippled their lives because of terrorism and bloodshed . The shackles that existed on their lives and breathes in pre-Article 370 have been broken . “Now the people are free to breathe in fresh air brought about by the abrogation of Article 370 .
Modi spoke hard politics as well as he told them that Lotus grows in lakes of Kashmir , and this flower also is symbol of BJP . this political connect and its objective was clear when he said that for next five years, there would be no stalling of the progress Kashmir made. He concluded his speech by greeting people of the country from Kashmir on the start of the Muslim month Ramzan – a month of fasting, peace and prayers, as also to Hindus on the occasion of Shivratri – the day devoted to Lord Shiva’s prayers.
In short , Modi’s mission Kashmir was to connect with the people of Kashmir and tell them that he believed in them and purity of their hearts as much he believed in the connect with them on emotional scale.
Arun Joshi is author of “Eyewitness Kashmir; Teetering on Nuclear War and senior journalist based in Jammu and Kashmir, writes on South Asian affairs)
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