The opposition parties in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday mocked the government over the presence of government employees at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public rally here.
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti alleged that government employees were herded during the wee hours amid sub-zero temperatures to attend Modi’s rally in this capital city of the Union Territory.
Mehbooba said the Government employees were herded at 5 am in sub-zero temperatures into vehicles at the Budgam bus stand and ferried to the PM’s rally.
“Disheartening to see employees being forcibly mobilised to paint a pretty picture that all is well post 2019 & that people here are celebrating their collective disempowerment & humiliation”, the PDP President posted on X.
The former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister said it stands contrary to visits by previous PMs like A B Vajpayee and Dr. Manmohan Singh at the peak of insurgency.
“Common people then thronged the venues with great enthusiasm and returned with hope in their hearts. But this time Kashmiris know that everything spoken at Bakshi stadium will be to showcase the so-called benefits of illegal abrogation of Article 370 akin to putting salt to their wounds”, she said.
“This visit is only meant to address & drum support amongst BJPs core constituency in the rest of India for the upcoming parliament elections”, she alleged.
On the eve of the PM’s visit, National Conference Vice President Omar Abdullah had accused the Jammu and Kashmir administration of “pulling out all stops” to ensure a crowd for Modi’s rally here and said the BJP would not be able to do so on its own.
Reacting to the allegations from the opposition parties, the Bharatiya Janata Party Jammu and Kashmir Unit President Ravinder Raina said people here are crazy fans of Narendra Modi.
He said the lotus flower has blossomed in the hearts of Kashmiris and the BJP will emerge victorious when the Parliament and Assembly elections are held.
The employees at the rally complained of “physical harassment.”
One of the employees from Kupwara said he was ferried in a bus that left from the border district at around 4 am.
“There was no one to guide us near the venue. We were left at God’s mercy as we wondered what we had to do at the rally,” said an employee who wanted to remain unidentified.
Hundreds of employees were mobilised by the government for the rally.
Another employee said there were no arrangements to relieve oneself, due to which many were inconvenienced.
