J-K residents expect PM Modi to address Indo-Pak relations issue

Residents of Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir state said Saturday that they expected Prime Minister Modi to address certain burning issues like the relationship with Pakistan and unemployment in the region.

After winning the biggest national mandate in 30 years, PM Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched its most audacious election project yet - to win power in Muslim-majority Jammu and Kashmir and integrate the disputed region fully into the country.

It is his toughest test yet - his party has no base in the Kashmir Valley where it is seen as anti-Muslim. Even more of a red rag is the BJP's long-held demand to abrogate the Himalayan region's special status in the constitution.

Residents were hopeful that Prime Minister Modi would talk about solving the long-standing dispute with neighbouring Pakistan with whom India has often shared crossfire.

"We will see what PM Modi does in his rally today. The J-K issue should definitely be raised. If India and Pakistan are on friendly terms, naturally there will be development. If there is friendship, there will be safety and then development will progress," said a local, Rishad Hussain.

In the Kashmir Valley, the bone of contention between India and Pakistan, BJP hope to win over independents, engineer splits in regional parties and get Hindus who fled during the revolt to register and vote.

At a rally in Kashmir, earlier on Wednesday, Interior Minister, Rajnath Singh had in fact said that PM Modi was so moved by the plight of the people of Kashmir that he not only sanctioned crores for the flood-hit people, but also offered to extend help to residents of PoK.

But BJP's aggressive posture toward Pakistan also claims Kashmir is just as menacing to the people sandwiched between the two countries.

And yet, within weeks, PM Modi has shaken up an election race dominated by two regional groups and the Congress party. A former separatist leader, Sajjad Lone, met PM Modi this week and said the BJP leader could change Kashmir's fortunes.

Meanwhile, other residents raised the matter of unemployment in the district and hoped PM Modi would take steps to resolve the problem by creating job opportunities.

"We are in the hope that when Modi comes, he will do something about the unemployment here, which is a big issue. There are so many educated and qualified people here with no means of employment. There are no private sector or government jobs here," said a local, Yassir Hassan.

Prime Minister Modi came to office in May with a mandate to create jobs and kickstart the Indian economy after a long period of sluggish growth. His signature 'Make in India' and 'Clean India' initiatives include targeting expats for investment.

The Election Commission of India has already announced the dates for assembly elections in Kashmir. The polls will be held in five-phases, beginning on November 25 and ending on December 20.

The counting of votes will take place on December 23.

The Hindus are a minority in Kashmir but their votes become important if many Muslims boycott.