Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday asserted that the people in Jammu and Kashmir are looking forward to a government free of corruption, terrorism and separatism for peace and a better future for their children.

Addressing an election rally in support of BJP candidates at M A M Stadium, he said the Assembly election has given the people of Jammu a historic opportunity to decide the next government.

“They need to seize this moment and choose the BJP,” Modi said.

“There has been a massive voter turnout in the first two phases of the election. The BJP will certainly form its first government with an absolute majority in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

At an election rally in Jammu, he said the biggest responsibility for the destruction of this generation lies with the Congress party. Since Independence, Congress’ wrong policies have only brought destruction, he added.

Hitting out at Congress, PM Modi said: “A large part of Jammu is connected to the border. Remember the time when firing from across the border was a daily thing. Breaking news would run every day. Firing used to take place from the other side and Congress would wave white flags. But when the BJP government responded to ‘Goli’ (bullets) with ‘Gola’ (artillery shells), the other side was taken aback. You will recall that on the night of September 28, 2016, surgical strikes took place. India showed the world that this is a new India, an India that can strike within enemy territory.”

This was the Prime Minister’s third visit to Jammu and Kashmir and fourth election rally in a fortnight.

He addressed an election rally in Doda district on September 14, four days before the first phase of elections, and two more rallies in Srinagar and Katra on September 19 in the run-up to the second phase of elections.

The high-pitch campaigning for the last 40 assembly segments in the seven districts — 24 in the Jammu region and 16 in Kashmir — will end on Sunday evening.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Friday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s monopoly model has taken away jobs in the country, devastated MSMEs and deprived people of opportunity.

Gandhi stressed the need for simplifying the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and opening up the banking system to small businesses to promote job creation.

“Modi ji’s monopoly model’ has taken away jobs, devastated MSMEs and deprived people of opportunity,” the senior Congress leader said.

The former Congress chief said that the systematic attack on small and medium industries through incompetent policies like a bad GST and demonetisation has turned India from a producing economy to a consuming one. “At this rate, we can neither compete with China nor ensure prosperity for all Indians,” he said, adding that India deserves better.

“The frustration in the eyes of a young start-up owner from Jammu and Kashmir reflects the struggles of most entrepreneurs and small-business owners in India,” Gandhi said in his post on X while sharing a video of the “Dogri Dham with RG” event hosted by the All India Professionals’ Congress (AIPC) in Jammu on Wednesday.

“We must simplify GST and open up the banking system to small businesses to promote widespread opportunity and job creation,” Gandhi said.

During the event, Gandhi outlined several key policy proposals aimed at boosting the local economy, including improved access to capital for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), export incentives and measures to reduce tax-related burdens on businesses.

In the video posted by Gandhi, he is seen telling the gathering that the single-biggest reason for unemployment is that the basic structure of employment, which is small and medium businesses, is “under severe attack from five to 10 really big monopolies”.

The event attracted 328 participants, with one-third representing business owners and a half comprising private sector professionals, PTI reported.

The Rae Bareli MP participated in a candid question-and-answer session during the event, where the attendees highlighted specific challenges facing businesses in the region.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday said that Indian Railways has decided to run nearly 6,000 special trains to help more than one crore passengers get home for Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath festivals.

Speaking to reporters, the Railway Minister said that additional general coaches have been added to 108 trains and 12,500 coaches have been sanctioned to take care of the extra rush witnessed during festivals.

Several train routes, especially those destined for Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal witness heavy rush during Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath festivals, PTI reported.

“A total of 5,975 special trains have been notified so far for this year’s festival season, up from 4,429 last year,” said Union Minister.

“This will facilitate more than one crore passengers to go home during this puja rush,” Vaishnaw said.

Durga Puja begins on October 9, Diwali will be celebrated on October 31 while Chhath Puja will take place on November 7 and 8 this year.

“This festive season, we have increased general coaches in 108 trains. We have also sanctioned 12,500 coaches for Chhath Puja and Diwali special trains. So far, we have notified 5,975 special trains for 2024-25. These trains will help over 1 crore passengers travel home during the Puja rush. In 2023-24, we ran a total of 4,429 special trains during the festive season,” Vaishnaw said.

The Railway Minister highlighted India’s progress in manufacturing, saying, “We built Vande Bharat because Prime Minister Narendra Modi trusted our railway engineers.”

He added that India is now manufacturing multiple versions of the Vande Bharat train, including the new Namo Bharat train and sleeper coaches, reducing reliance on foreign imports.

In July this year, the government operated over 300 special trains to and from Puri, Odisha, to handle the large number of pilgrims attending the Jagannath Rath Yatra.