Jammu and Kashmir, India

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked the anniversary of the 2016 surgical strike on terrorist camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on Saturday (Sep 28). Recalling the event, he said that when the BJP government responded to the attacks with heavy fire, those on the other side "came to their senses."

"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," PM Modi said.

Also read: Encounter breaks out between terrorists, security forces in J-K's Kulgam

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"Today is 28th September. In the year 2016, on the night of 28th September, a surgical strike was carried out. India had told the world, 'Yeh naya Bharat hai, yeh ghar mein ghuskar maarta hain...Aatank ke aakao ko pata hai agar kuch bhi himaakat ki toh Modi paataal mein bhi unhe khoj nikalega' (This is the new India, it enters their homes and strikes... The leaders of terrorism know that if they do anything foolish, Modi will find them even in the depths of the underworld)..." the Indian PM said while addressing a public meeting in Jammu.

On the night of September 28, 2016, the Indian Army carried out surgical strikes targeting terrorist camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. This was in retaliation for the deadly attack by terrorists based in Pakistan on an Indian army base in Uri, Kashmir, on September 18, which resulted in the deaths of 19 soldiers. The surgical strike was widely praised by both the public and the armed forces and later inspired a Bollywood film Uri: The Surgical Strike.

Also read: Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif’s UNGA Kashmir rant falls flat as India hits back, labels speech 'travesty'

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PM Modi slams Congress

Attacking the opposition, the PM said, "Congress can never respect those who die for the country. It is the same Congress which made our army families yearn for 'One Rank, One Pension' for 4 decades. Congress lied to our soldiers. They used to say that 'One Rank One Pension', OROP will put pressure on the treasury but Modi has never looked at the treasury before the welfare of army families and hence, after forming the government in 2014, we implemented OROP."

"The people of Jammu and Kashmir are tired of the 3 families, Congress, NC and PDP. They don't want the same system again in which there is corruption and discrimination in jobs. The people of Jammu and Kashmir don't want terrorism, separatism and bloodshed anymore," he added. 

PM Modi says J&K will see the first government of the BJP with full majority

“There has been a huge voting in favour of BJP in both phases. The first government of the BJP will be formed with a full majority here,” PM Modi said.

Also read: Maldives president: Took action against ministers who made anti-Modi remarks

The first phase of elections in Jammu and Kashmir took place on September 18. The second round of voting was held a week later, on September 25 in six districts: Ganderbal, Budgam, and Srinagar from the Kashmir region, and Rajouri, Reasi, and Poonch from Jammu.

The final phase is planned for October 1, with vote counting scheduled for October 8.

"The results (of J&K Assembly elections) will be declared on 8 October on the day of Navratri and we all have grown up in the shadow of Mata Vaishno Devi and Vijayadashami is on 12 October. This time Vijayadashami will be an auspicious beginning for all of us. Be it Jammu, Samba or Kathua, only one slogan is echoing everywhere, 'Jammu ke yahi pukar, aa rahi hai BJP sarkaar'..."

(With inputs from agencies)