Asserting that it was the former UPA regime which brought peace in Jammu and Kashmir, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre of spreading hatred and anger among the people.
"The BJP and NDA Government causes rifts between the people. They spread anger, make big promises and get power. These BJP leaders sit behind the security wall, when people fall to violence they don't get affected," Gandhi said at an election rally here.
"It is very easy to spread anger, bringing peace and spreading love is a difficult task. We believe in taking everyone along," he added.
He also took credit for the erstwhile Congress-led UPA Government's success in holding peaceful panchayat polls in the state.
"We want to empower you all so that you fulfill your dreams. We held elections here. Before 2004, there was a situation that the NDA could not have thought of holding the panchayat polls here. But we brought peace and conducted the panchayat polls and fought for your rights. This is the kind of work we do," he said.
The Congress vice-president claimed that the UPA regime tried to connect Jammu and Kashmir in the last ten years.
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"22,000 crores were spent on rail infrastructure. I brought Tata, Birla and other industrialists to Kashmir University to meet with the youth for employment. It was the first time that big industrialists came here. And, I can happily say that after that, around 40,000 youths of Jammu and Kashmir got employed," he added.
The first of the five phase polling in Jammu and Kashmir is currently underway. The counting of votes will take place on December 23.