People of J&K see new ray of hope, says PM Narendra Modi

SRINAGAR: PM Narendra Modi has praised the people of Jammu & Kashmir for their historic participation in the first phase of the assembly elections that sent out a clear message to the world that the valley has rejected “bullets” to embrace “ballots”.

Addressing election rallies in Udhampur and Poonch on Friday, Modi hoped the subsequent phases of the elections too will see heavy voting.

“This election would be recorded as the special and extra-ordinary election in the history of India and I believe the participation will continue in the subsequent phases,” the prime minister said in Udhampur.

“Forces who had suppressed people using bullets were introduced to the ballot during the first phase of polls,” he said.

The 15 assembly seats that went to polls in the first phase on Tuesday had registered 70%-72% voter turnout despite a boycott call .

Modi did not talk about the ongoing border encounter in Arnia where the death toll has reached 11, including three soldiers.

Seeking support for a BJP rule in the state, Modi promised to bring development to the state and recover its plundered resources.

“For 30 years, development in J&K is stuck as politicians have resorted to plunder, corruption and blackmail,” he said.