Deadly Kashmir clashes after Indian PM Modi visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a rally at Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium in Srinagar today with the state being turned into a fortress ahead of his visit.

“Kashmir has suffered a lot… the dreams of several generations have been shattered, but I have the confidence that my Kashmir will rise again”, he said. “I have visited far-flung areas of Kashmir when I came here in the past as a BJP worker”, he said.

“Our state has got special patronage from Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji and he has stood up to the expectations of the people even in trying times of flood and natural calamities…”

“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.

“Since then, Kashmir issue is continuously posing threat to the peace and stability to the entire South West Asia”, he said.

Stressing on the development of Jammu and Kashmir, Modi said: “We will spend Rs.34,000 crore on Jammu-Srinagar Highway”.

Mr Modi expressed hopes that his could “change the fate of Kashmir”.

He reiterated his slogan of “sab ka saath, sab ka vikas” and spoke about his 17-month rule, saying people were not thinking of India competing with china prior to it.

Stressing on the importance of information technology, the Prime Minister said that he wants both the highways as well as the “I-ways” (information ways) for the state.

A large protest is planned on the same day when Modi is scheduled to visit Jammu Kashmir on November 7. Modi is expected to present an economic development package for the region which was devastated by floods in September 2014. “I’m ready to do everything for Kashmir’s talented youth like Parvez Rasool”, he said. “The package is basically meant to give economic empowerment to Jammu and Kashmir to bring the state at par in terms of prosperity of our more developed and progressive states”, Modi said.

Saturday’s visit is Modi’s first this year to the disputed territory which has been plagued by militant violence for years.

Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Independent MLA Engineer Rashid has been detained by Srinagar Police after his supporters waved black flags forward of the Prime Minister’s go to.

“So, we should wait and listen to him”, he said when asked whether there would be any announcement of talks with separatists or Pakistan like Vajpayee did in 2003.