The Lalkar Rally has got both the Congress and the National Conference worried, the traders say. The Modi rally would change the political scene of Jammu province

On a chilly morning, as December approaches, the town of Jammu is seeing something nobody here has witnessed before -- the city of temples has been transformed with the entire winter capital wrapped in warm hues of saffron and yellow. Plastic banners and party flags of the Bharatiya Janata Party have appeared everywhere, on top of residential homes and along shop fronts. Everywhere, even on the doors of flats, there are posters and cutouts of the man who will address a historical rally in Jammu on Sunday, the Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi.

Called his 'Lalkar' or a challenge to battle, the rally is expected to buttress a surprising upsurge of support for the BJP in the Muslim majority state's Jammu region.

Security has been beefed up across the state and especially along all routes leading to the venue of the 'Lalkar’ rally, the Maulana Azad Maidan Jammu.

Jammu and Kashmir police and Central Reserve Paramilitary Forces have set up barricades on all roads leading to the venue. The movement of people is closely monitored and any person found suspicious is being stopped. Special pickets have been raised along the banks of river Tawi close to the venue to keep a check on any suspicious movement .

Policemen can be seen frisking passengers and checking vehicles at all entry and exit points of Jammu city, with additional forces deployed on the roads to avoid any untoward eventuality.

Four high-ranking police officials, including an Inspector General of Police from Gujarat, arrived in Jammu three days before Modi’s rally. The Gujarat police would be personally overseeing the security arrangements at the venue where Modi is supposed to address the rally, sources said.

The Jammu and Kashmir police have deployed more than 4,000 police and paramilitary force personnel in the town to thwart any possible threat to the rally. The other hugely publicised rally -- the Hunkar Rally in Patna in the last week of October, also Modi's first ever rally in that state, was marred by serial bomb blasts -- left a trail of destruction, something the organisers want to rule out this time.

“Four top officials of Gujarat police are in Jammu, including one Inspector General of Police from Gujarat police, for the Advance Security Liaison,” Superintendent of Police, Jammu, Atul Goel told Firstpost.

The Gujarat police in assistance with Jammu and Kashmir police would sanitize the venue of the rally and its surroundings.

But the presence of large contingent of security personnel deployed on the roads has not deterred the people, who are upbeat about the rally. More than 5,000 BJP activists from Kashmir are likely to travel 296 Kms to Jammu for the rally, including some Muslims. Many are also coming from Ladakh.

The BJP had dispatched its senior leaders both to Kashmir and Ladakh, the other two regions of the state, were they held talks with activists to ensure that the Jammu rally is a resounding success.

Senior BJP leader in Kashmir Sofi Yousf told Firstpost the state unit of the party has made all arrangements for the people who want to travel to Jammu for the rally.

“More than five thousand people would be joining the rally from Kashmir. All the arrangements have been made for them,” he said.

The BJP which is expecting more than one lakh people to participate in the rally has set up a kitchen which would serve food to the people coming in from far flung areas. The kitchen has the capacity to serve more than 10 thousand people at a time.

“For people coming in from far flung areas we will be serving food and transport arrangements have already been made for them,” said BJP Press secretary Balbeer Ram.

Among the common people of Jammu, there is curiosity and word of mouth publicity.

“We admire Modiji’s work. He is strict and incorruptible. He will take India to the next level and people like us will proposer,” believes Mohan Kumar, a tea seller in in Rajiv Chowk says.

The BJP has taken onboard almost all the social, religious and traders' associations to make the rally a grand success. Sunil Gupta, member of the traders' federation of Jammu says all the traders are excited about Modi’s rally. “We have to show the unity by making this rally a resounding success. For that to happen people from different walks of life have come together and we have volunteered for this rally.”

The Lalkar Rally has got both the Congress and the National Conference worried, the traders say. The Modi rally would change the political scene of Jammu province and help the State BJP to perform exceedingly well in the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly polls, it is expected.

Dr Jitendra Singh, National Executive member and Chief Spokesperson of BJP in Jammu and Kashmir, says people are expected to come from remote parts of Jammu and special arrangements have been made for them.

“The BJP will change its fortunes in the Jammu and Kashmir state under Modiji’s leadership we will change the political turf of the state. We will be a major party post 2014 elections. And this rally is a step into that direction,” Singh said.

The Congress party in the state seems to have been rattled by a distinct Modi wave in Jammu. It has decided to hold a meeting of party Ministers, legislators and senior party leaders and functionaries on December 2 to review the prevailing political situation in the State.

Prof Saif-u-Din Soz, President Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) on Friday said if Narendra Modi becomes the Prime Minister, the same will invite fascism and sectarianism in the country.

“I am sure Modi will soon realize that it is not easy to become the Prime Minister of India and God forbid if he becomes the Prime Minister by

chance, the same will be fraught with dangerous consequences for the

country. Modi will invite sectarianism and fascism in the country,” Soz said