Indian Kashmir on high alert for Prime Minister Modi’s visit
This was Modi’s first rally in the state since the PDP and the BJP formed the government in March before a series of controversial decisions, including the release of a separatist, put the coalition under stress.
The ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP), nevertheless, stated that the individuals of Kashmir expect quite a bit from their Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister said the Rs. 80,000 crore package for Jammu and Kashmir, which he announced in Srinagar, would give new strength to the State, and generate employment for youth.
The Prime Minister, after addressing the rally, is scheduled to inaugurate 450 megawatt Baglihar Phase II power project in Ramban district on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
“We have to follow the path shown by Atalji”.
He asserted that Vajpayee’s call for restoring insaniyat (humanity), Kashmiriyat (Kashmiri culture) and jamhuriyat (democracy) in the troubled state remained the guiding principles of his government. Nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan both claim Kashmir in full but rule it in part.
“This is so far the biggest package in the history of the state of the Jammu and Kashmir”, he said. “Even if the world changes through technological advances, nothing can be achieved without the human values of “Insaaniyat”.
The official said concertina wires have been laid at the entry points to the city to regulate the movement of the people, who have been invited to the Prime Minister’s rally. “We want to bring AIIMS and IITs and IIMs here”, he said. “There is scope for adventure tourism and eco-tourism here and more tourist destinations can be built through development of infrastructure”, he added.
“What I have said, I have done”, he said. He said that Kashmir is the birthplace of Sufism which teaches people to come together.
Reacting to his speech, former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said Modi invoked Vajpayee used the Srinagar platform in a hard situation to reach out to Pakistan and start a dialogue process with the Hurriyat Conference. “But today, they say India is not only catching up, but leading China”, he said.
Reports also said that a few vehicles carrying people to the rally came under stone-pelting by angry people at Narbal on Srinagar-Baramulla highway.
“The Rs 80,000 crore worth of package will also cater to the damages caused in Jammu as well as in Srinagar due to last years flood”. “Sachin, Sehwag or Dhoni, whoever hit a six, they did it with a Made-in-Kashmir bat”, Modi said.