NC chief Farooq Abdullah Wednesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government at the Centre had "miserably failed" to deliver on the promises made ahead of the 2014 general election.
The National Conference (NC) president, who is seeking re-election from Srinagar Parliamentary constituency, said, "A failed government and a failed prime minister needs to be shown the door."
Addressing a public meeting in central Kashmir's Budgam district, Abdullah said democracy is a humbling experience and the people of the country are seeking answers from Modi on the issues of price rise and unemployment.
"During Modi's stint as chief minister of Gujarat, he used to mock the previous government on these issues, but now what has he done? The people of country especially our mothers and sisters across the country are finding it very difficult to run their households in view of soaring prices," Abdullah said.
"Modi had promised to deliver on various issues concerning the nation during his 2014 election campaign, but he has aggravated the problems to an extent that will take decades to solve," he added.
The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister said said the Modi government "presents a tale of failures and mis-governance".
"People have now made it a point to give befitting reply to Modi for his failures and lies in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls," he said, adding that the Centre has "squandered" the mandate of the people by "its imprudent policies".
The former Union minister further flayed the prime minister for "creating war hysteria" in the country to divert the attention of people from farm distress, price rise and other foreign policy failures.
"We in Parliament knew that the government has failed to deliver on key issues that the country is facing, so they would create a war-like situation in the country to divert the attention of people from the real issues affecting poor particularly farmers and the labour class," he said.
War is no solution, it brings with itself innumerable miseries. The tallest leader of BJP once said that friends can be changed, but neighbours cannot be changed. However, Modi failed to carry forward the legacy of Atal Bihari Vajpayee," he said.
The NC president accused the Modi-led government of devaluing the institutions of the country by impeding their working.
"The Modi government has tried to destroy the autonomy of RBI and various other institutions. The autonomy of the institutions has been compromised," he said.
"The Modi government and its ideologue RSS is sending a message that India is only for the adherents for a particular religion. But let me clear it that India is for all Indians, it belongs to each of us, irrespective of our colour, creed or faith," he added.
Abdullah said not just were the religious minorities "threatened" under Modi's regime, but attempts were made to "erode" the political rights conferred upon them by the Constitution of India.
"The agenda of BJP-RSS is divisive and we saw how they are contriving to vitiate the atmosphere of our state," he said.
"But, we as peace loving people should never allow ourselves to fall prey into the hands of their shenanigans, we should strike unity and work for a country where in all of us live amicably and derive our share from the development and prosperity of the country," he added.
The NC leader cautioned the people against the RSS-BJP and "their cronies and henchmen", saying the forces will try their level best to use men and money to impede the general election.
"But, we have to put up a strong front and work tirelessly to ensure that all the candidates of the NC win by resounding margins. Only then we can work for a tolerant and secular India. Our vote will make a difference," he said.
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
