Union Science and Technology Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh arrived at Jasrota in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, 18 June 2026, as part of celebrations marking the completion of 12 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government at the Centre. The minister was accorded a warm public reception by party functionaries, elected representatives, and a large gathering of residents.

Context

Posting on X, Dr. Jitendra Singh described the occasion as a felicitation on the completion of '12 swarnima varsh' (12 golden years) of Prime Minister Modi's tenure. He acknowledged the welcome extended by MLA Rajeev Jasrotia, BJP District President Updesha Andotra, DDC Vice-Chairman Raghunandan Singh, Media In-charge Manjeet Singh Jasrotia, Mandal President Roni Sharma, Media Officer Nandan Khajuria, party office-bearers, dedicated workers, and a large public gathering. The minister expressed heartfelt gratitude for the 'affection, trust, and continued support' of all present.

The event was organised under the BJP's nationwide #12YearsofSeva campaign, which marks the anniversary of the party's uninterrupted governance at the Centre since May 2014. Jasrota, a historically significant locality within Kathua district known for its 17th-century Dogra-era fort, served as the backdrop for the outreach.

Policy Backdrop

Narendra Modi was first sworn in as Prime Minister on 26 May 2014, initiating what the BJP has described as a sustained period of governance reform, infrastructure development, and welfare delivery. The government's re-election in May 2019 was followed by the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, which reorganised Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories and opened the region to direct central development interventions.

Kathua district, situated in the Jammu division bordering Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, has been a focus of connectivity and agricultural development initiatives under successive central schemes. Dr. Jitendra Singh, who represents the broader Jammu region's interests at the Union Cabinet level, has been a consistent presence in local BJP outreach programmes across the district.

Stakeholders and Impact

The public reception at Jasrota underscores the BJP's effort to maintain grassroots engagement in Jammu and Kashmir, particularly as the Union Territory continues its post-reorganisation political and administrative consolidation. Local elected bodies — including the District Development Council (DDC) — have become key intermediaries between central schemes and ground-level delivery since their establishment following the 2020 DDC elections.

For residents of Kathua and the surrounding Jasrota area, visits by a Union Minister carry significance in terms of signalling continued central attention to regional development priorities. Party workers and local functionaries form the organisational backbone through which welfare and infrastructure outreach is channelled to constituents.

What's Next

The #12YearsofSeva campaign is expected to generate a series of similar outreach events across BJP-governed states and Union Territories through June 2026, with senior ministers and party leaders visiting constituencies to highlight the government's development record. Observers will watch for any follow-up announcements regarding science, technology, or infrastructure projects specifically targeted at Jammu division districts in the coming weeks.