Jammu: Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a scathing attack on the Congress party during a rally in Jammu on Saturday, alleging that the opposition party is under the control of "Urban Naxals" who treat foreign infiltrators as "vote banks" and disregard the struggles of Indian citizens.

"Congress has never truly honoured the sacrifices of our brave soldiers," PM Modi stated. "Today, the party is hijacked by urban Naxal sympathisers, who welcome foreign infiltrators as 'vote banks' while mocking the sufferings of our own citizens," he added, intensifying his criticism of the party's policies and ideology.

Modi went on to accuse Congress, along with the National Conference (NC) and the People?s Democratic Party (PDP), of causing significant harm to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. He argued that these parties have historically neglected the region, favouring appeasement and family interests over the welfare of the local population.

?Congress, NC, and PDP have always done injustice to Jammu. They can do anything for appeasement. Today, they are furious with the changes taking place in Jammu and Kashmir. These parties do not want to see the region develop. They say that if they form the government, they will revert to the old system, bringing back the discriminatory regime whose biggest victim has been Jammu,? PM Modi asserted.

The Prime Minister's speech was filled with sharp accusations, including claims that the Congress has continually questioned the credibility of India?s military actions, such as the 2016 surgical strike against Pakistan. "The Congress party bears significant responsibility for the decline and exploitation of our generations through its flawed policies, indifference, and neglect. For decades, these parties have prioritised the interests of their leaders and families while the people of Jammu and Kashmir have suffered greatly," he stated.

Modi expressed his commitment to rectifying what he described as historical injustices against the people of Jammu and Kashmir. "With the BJP's steadfast commitment towards ensuring prosperity, we will leave no stone unturned to undo the injustice meted out to our people. Can we forgive such betrayal? Never!" he declared.

He also accused Congress and its allies of opposing crucial decisions, such as the abrogation of Article 370, and failing to protect the rights of local residents. ?Here in Jammu, many families living for several generations did not even have the right to vote. They were denied this right by Congress, NC, and PDP. These parties have strangled the spirit of the Constitution and are enemies of democracy,? Modi said.

Highlighting the difference between the current and previous governments, the Prime Minister recalled the response to border skirmishes. "Remember that time when bullets were fired from that side and the Congress used to wave white flags. When the BJP government responded to the bullets with shells, the people on that side came to their senses," he remarked, emphasizing the government?s tough stance on national security.

PM Modi?s address comes at a time when political tensions are high in Jammu and Kashmir, with regional parties challenging the BJP's governance and policies. His remarks reflect the BJP's strategy of portraying itself as the sole defender of national interests and criticising the opposition for what it terms as anti-national policies.