PM praises Kashmiri cricketer, wants int’l match in Srinagar

He said if the Prime Minister of India and GoI wanted to reach out towards the people of Kashmir, they needed to be realistic, show political maturity and courage and address the Kashmir dispute once and for all through meaningful dialogue involving people of Kashmir, New Delhi and Islamabad or by implementing global agreements on Kashmir. The PDP-BJP coalition is taking out all the plugs to make the visit a “resounding success” with Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed creating the environment with his lavish praise of the PM. The Valley has been virtually cordoned off for the PM’s visit with carefully screened and selected persons only to be cleared for his meeting at the stadium. Devastating floods have crushed us economically. We expect prime minister will announce at least Rs44,000 crore package for the trading community. “Delhi (the Centre) will work shoulder to shoulder with the state government in this regard”, he said. He added, “All problems faced by the state, including the migrants and displaced, will be addressed by this Rs 80,000 crore package announced today”. “I have done what I have been saying”.

As soon as Modi made the announcement, the large gathering of people who had come to hear him broke into a joyous rapture at the Sher-e-Kashmir cricket stadium. If Modi vouches for a meaningful dialogue it will be a major development towards peace.

The government move comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stones of these two projects in Haryana on Thursday. “Many hospitals, many schools, many roads, bridges that got damaged would also be reconstructed”, he said.

He said the prime minister would inaugurate the Chenani-Nasri nine-km tunnel in June 2016.

“Only providing promised right to self-determination will change the fate of Kashmir, not mere economic packages”, said separatist leader Ayed Ali Geelani. It will be a big challenge for the security establishment in the state to contain the law and order situation in the valley and at the same time ensure massive attendance for the rally.

The separatist sources, however, said that more than 1000 protesters have been detained including top leaders of the separatist groups.

Since its formation, the PDP-BJP alliance has been through several ups and downs.

Sayeed praised Modi’s reference to Kashmiriyat and for following Vajpayee’s vision on Kashmir.

Security has been beefed up ahead of Modi’s visit, with the Muslim-majority region already tense following incidents of religious intolerance and attacks on minorities in many parts of India.

State finance minister Haseen Drabu said of the Rs 80,000 crore, Rs 60,000 crore had been earmarked for new infrastructure projects, Rs 7,000 crore for ongoing projects and Rs 8,000 crore for relief, including rehabilitating those affected by the floods.