Modi visits Srinagar amid curfew, shutdown

“Not only Delhi’s treasures, but Delhi’s heart is for the people of Kashmir”, he added speaking in Hindi.

The all inclusive package will cover relief for the 2014 flood victims, farmers, businessmen, youth employment, tourism, infrastructure development, education and healthcare.

Modi is scheduled to address a public rally in Srinagar on today.

“There can’t be a bigger message than Mr. Vajpayee’s Jamhooriyat, Insaaniyat and Kashmiriyat [democracy, humanity and the essence of being a Kashmiri]”. Kashmiriyat ke bina Hindustan adhura hai [Without Kashmiriyat, India is incomplete]. The massive participation of people in Kashmir in the 2003 elections was a great contribution to democracy based on the principle of “Jamhooriyat“.

A senior PDP Minister said Mr. Modi’s speech had not met the party’s expectations.

Beg supported the government curb on pro-independence activists, saying: “Anything that disturbs the prime minister’s visit will not be allowed”. “And no matter how much the life changes, we may even build a castle in the air, but it is only our soul that inspires us to respect the dignity of self and others”, Modi said.

Modi’s visit to Srinagar comes a little more than a year after a flood in Kashmir that killed hundreds of people and left thousands homeless.

“Our rally will be a message to India to read the writing on the wall that Kashmiris are against the Indian occupation”, said Ayaz Akbar, a spokesman for the All Parties Hurriyat Conference.

The officials said anti-sabotage checks have being carried out in the surrounding areas of the venue to ensure fool-proof security for the high profile visit of the Prime Minister this week. Mr. Sayeed had said, “If India has to be ahead of China, as an elder brother, it should reach out to the younger brother [Pakistan]”. He will leave for Chanderkote (Ramban) at 1 p.m. At Baglihar, Modi will inaugurate phase II of the power project.

“The Centre announces Rs 80,000 crore package to the state”.

Modi said the focus of reforms is not just to increase the rate of economic growth or impress experts and get “better headlines in pink papers” but also to help all citizens, especially the poor. “There are lakhs for refugees since 1947 here…and about 15-20 per cent population of the state is displaced”.

Narendra Modi was the part of BJP’s 1992 Ekta Yatra in Kashmir, which was led by Murli Manohar Joshi, the then BJP president.

Most Indian prime ministers have announced economic packages for Kashmir in the past, with a few seeking political engagement with separatists in the restive region.