As the first phase of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections begins today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have urged voters in the state to come out in large numbers and exercise their right to vote.

In a social media post, Mr. Modi urged everyone in those constituencies going to the polls today to vote in large numbers and strengthen the festival of democracy. He particularly called upon young and first-time voters, encouraging them to exercise their franchise.

Home Minister Amit Shah emphasised that only a government with strong will can establish a terror-free Jammu and Kashmir, protect the rights of the citizens there, and speed up development work. Mr. Shah called for electing a government committed to work for education of the youth, employment, empowerment of women, and ending separatism and nepotism in the region.