Govt. should make Jammu-Kashmir a 'super state', not a 'separate state': Modi

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Sunday hit out at the Congress-led UPA Government for ignoring the development of the state, and said that the Government should have thought of making Jammu and Kashmir a super state instead of a separate state.

"They call Jammu Kashmir a beggar state but the state will prove it is a better state and not a beggar state. It would have been better if the Government thought of making Jammu and Kashmir a super state instead of a separate state,' he said while addressing a rally here today.

He raised several questions regarding the state's welfare, and asked why the Government failed to provide proper impetus to certain sectors that could have benefited the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

"The Government is least bothered about development. Why not a road to Kailash Mansarovar be laid through Leh? Nepal is reaping the benefits now. Why can't Jammu and Kashmir take the benefits? Jammu and Kashmir had been a popular venue for film shooting. Why didn't the Indian government focus on Jammu and Kashmir on the 100th year of Indian cinema? There could be a film institute here," he said.

"Why can't Jammu and Kashmir be made an improved state through boosting the tourism and herbal medicine industry? Why cannot we export herbal medicines, and give employment to our people here. Can't an IIM or IIT be made in Jammu and Kashmir?" he questioned.

Recalling the brutal killings of Sarabjit Singh and Chamel Singh in Pakistan jail, Modi said that the Congress Government is least bothered about its own people getting killed.

He added that Sarabjit Singh would have been alive, had the Government raised their voice against such atrocities.

"While fighting against terrorism, many people sacrificed their lives. The Government in Delhi is sleeping, and even people's anger cannot wake it, and it seems they will keep sleeping till 2014. I am saying this because two incidents happened in Pakistan. Two innocent Indians were locked up in Pakistan jails. One was Sarabjit Singh and the other was Chamel Singh," he said.

"Had the Indian Government raised their voice after the death of Chamel Singh, then maybe Sarabjit would have been alive today. Centre is not bothered even when its own people are getting killed," he added.