A month and a half after the Pran Pratishtha ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Hazratbal mosque development project in Srinagar. That is the power of inclusive political signalling that Modi is engaging in.
Virtually launching the ‘Integrated Development of Hazratbal Shrine’ project from Srinagar’s Bakshi stadium Thursday, Modi made a strong emotional pitch to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Stressing his commitment to the region, he guaranteed to his “family in J&K” that “under no circumstances would development grind to a halt” in the Union territory.
This was Modi’s first visit to J&K in the five years since the August 2019 abrogation of Article 370, which had granted special status to the former state.
Similar to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s famous call for resolution of the conflict within ‘insaniyat ke daayre’ (the realm of humanity) during a Srinagar visit, Modi delivered an appeal of the ‘winning hearts and minds’ variety from Bakshi Stadium—”Dil jeetne aaya hoon” (I’ve come to win hearts).
But Modi’s visit assumes greater significance as it comes just ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. The PM spoke on the benefits of doing away with Article 370, declaring that the “talent of the youth of Jammu and Kashmir is now being fully respected” and “today, everyone here has equal opportunity and equal rights”.
The BJP has been busy showcasing the abrogation of Article 370 as one of its key achievements in the run-up to the polls. Modi’s visit served to build that narrative and take it a step further. From calling the UT the “crown of India” to promising that a “developed J&K is a priority for a viksit (developed) Bharat”, Modi went all out to establish an emotional connection with the people while also strategically projecting a positive image to India and the international community. Social media was flooded with reels and images of the PM in Kashmir shortly after his visit. This is why Modi’s visit to Srinagar is ThePrint’s Newsmaker of the Week.
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A message with multiple targets
The Prime Minister steered clear of mentioning elections, but he made an outreach to the Muslim community at large and sent out a signal to the world through his inauguration of the Hazratbal project.
The timing escapes no one. Lok Sabha elections apart, the Supreme Court has directed the Election Commission of India to conduct elections to the Jammu and Kashmir assembly before September. Modi’s rally, therefore, is being seen as an attempt by the BJP to make inroads into the region.
Since the repeal of Article 370, the BJP has also been actively promoting an image of a “developed” and “naya” (new) Kashmir—not just to India but to the world as well, especially amid criticism from foreign media regarding alleged human rights violations and a clampdown on press freedom.
In the lead-up to Lok Sabha and assembly elections, the narrative of a ‘developed’ Jammu & Kashmir is strategically important, and there is no one better than Modi to deliver it.
His attention to Hazratbal, especially, comes loaded with meaning. The shrine, one of the most revered Muslim sites in J&K, is believed to house the Moi-e-Muqqadas – the sacred hair of Prophet Muhammad’s beard. But it has also played a central role in Kashmir’s political landscape, as a hub of numerous religious and political gatherings, even serving as an important mobilisation point during the freedom movement, said political analyst and retired Kashmir University professor Noor A Baba in an interaction with ThePrint.
The shrine, Baba added, was central to the politics of Sheikh Abdullah, the founder of the party now known as the J&K National Conference. “After (Sheikh Abdullah), Farooq Abdullah and even Omar Abdullah visited this place. Through them, it continued to remain the centre of politics in Kashmir.”
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‘Development’ agenda for J&K
For many BJP leaders and supporters, the PM’s visit isn’t just about reaching out to the Muslim community. It’s a response to opposition criticism of the Modi government’s decision to scrap Article 370.
Modi directly took on the Congress and its allies at the Srinagar public meeting. “For decades, the Congress and its allies have misled Jammu and Kashmir and the country in the name of Article 370. Was 370 beneficial to J&K or a few political families?” he asked.
Drawing attention to the crowds that came out to listen to Modi, Atif Rasheed, former vice-chairman of the National Commission for Minorities, told ThePrint that accusations of the BJP running a proxy government through the Lieutenant Governor had been proven false.
“The way Muslims have come out to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi has showcased the real situation of Kashmir not only to the rest of the country but the world as a whole,” Rasheed said. “Today’s visit by the PM made it clear that Sabka Saath, Sabka Vishwas was not a mere slogan… the people of Jammu and Kashmir are getting connected with the mainstream.”
Rasheed said that the BJP remained committed to “what you may call Hindutva” and its manifesto promises such as revoking Article 370 or building the Ram Mandir. However, he also stressed that no one would be “left behind” in the new “viskshit Bharat”. “When development is carried out it will benefit all whether Hindu or Muslim. This is the message of the PM,” he added.
If the BJP is highlighting the construction of Ram Mandir as a major national achievement across the country, it is adopting a different tack to make inroads in J&K—emphasising development and infrastructure.
The overarching message is that only Modi and the BJP can lead Jammu and Kashmir toward growth and peace. In Srinagar, PM Modi reportedly launched 53 projects worth over Rs 6,400 crore, mainly in the tourism and agriculture sectors. It remains to be seen what political and electoral impact this will have.
Views are personal.
(Edited by Asavari Singh)