BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi astride a white horse on his way to the Vaishno Devi shrine
, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate today offered prayers at the Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu, before addressing a rally in Hiranagar town of Kathua district, a few kilometres from the Indo-Pak border.
This morning, Mr Modi tweeted a picture of him astride a white horse on his way to the cave shrine and said, "Jai Mata Di! On way to Vaishno Devi from Sanjichhat" (
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Later addressing the crowd at the rally, Mr Modi said, "Fortunate my campaign has begun from J&K... this morning I bowed to Mata Vaishno Devi, now I bow to the people."
The rally is the first of the 185 "Bharat Vijay Rallies" that Mr Modi will address across the country.
This is also the second rally addressed by the BJP leader in the Jammu region. He had addressed a rally in December last during which he stirred a controversy by demanding a dialogue on Article 370 which guarantees a special status to the state.
Massive security arrangements were in place today in and around the Hockey Stadium where the rally was held.
Hiranagar had been hit by a terror attack on September 26 last year in which a top Army officer was among 11 army personnel, cops and civilians killed besides three militants.
The BJP has fielded Jitender Singh from Hiranagar which will see Congress heavyweight and Union minister Ghulam Nabi Azad contest the general elections from for the first time.