Modi invokes Atal,reaches out to Kashmiri youth

Modi slammed the “two power centres” in the Congress-led UPA. Taking a jibe at Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,Modi said it was not clear which of the “two chiefs” was “genuine”.

Modi reached out to the youth of Kashmir by underlining their importance in the development of the nation,but lamented that the Congress-led UPA government had failed to provide them with the opportunities they deserved and wanted.

Instead of bomb,bandook (gun) and pistol,there was a need to usher in peace,unity and harmony,he said.

He said Kashmiri youth were unemployed and dejected,but given an opportunity could rub shoulders with youngsters across the country. To drive home his point,he referred to a report in The Sunday Express about 300 J&K students joining coaching classes in Kota,Rajasthan,for entrance to engineering and medical courses.

He said 65 per cent of the youth in the country were below 35 years of age and wanted to do something for the country. All they needed was an opportunity,he said.

Referring to Vajpayee repeatedly,Modi said,“Had Vajpayeeji got another term in 2004,he would have healed the wounds of Kashmir.” The problems of Kashmiri Pandits and issues relating to differences in Ladakh,Jammu and Kashmir would have been resolved,he said.

Training his guns on the Centre,Modi made scathing remarks on the Congress-led UPA for failing to rise to the occasion on issues like the killing of Sarabjit Singh in Pakistan,the beheading of Indian soldiers by Pak soldiers and alleged killing of Indian fishermen by Italian marines.