PM announces Rs.80000 crore package for J&K

“Don’t think that the 80,000 crore package is the full-stop”, Modi told crowds at the Sher I Kashmir stadium. He said that besides tourism, attention was being given to sectors such as Pashmina, and Saffron. Kashmir has suffered a lot over the years.

Modi said the package was besides 35,000 crore for connecting Jammu with Srinagar through a railway link.

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.

“PM Modi has made the same mistake of weighing the Kashmir issue in Rupees & Paise!!!!”, Abdullah, the former chief minister of the state tweeted.

Comparing the devastation from the floods to that in his home state of Gujarat after an quake in 2001, Modi said: “thousands died… homes were destroyed… nobody believed we would be able to rebuild so quickly”.

“A state which has given us Parvez Rasool (off-spinner), should it not hold an worldwide cricket match”. The National Conference, the main opposition, said Modi had ignored a political solution for the state.

He accused the PDP-led government of keeping people “under siege” for four days to “pretend” that the PM’s rally was successful, which he said, was “far from reality”. More than 68 000 people have been killed in the fighting and the ensuing crackdown by Indian forces.

Modi, who will begin his Britain visit on November 12, wrote on his Facebook page that it is “aimed at strengthening cooperation with a traditional friend that is not only a major economic partner of India but also one of the leading economic players of the world”.

Separatists were put under house arrest after they announced a “million march” near the public meeting venue.

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

This time too, the visit was certain to meet with protests from Kashmiris.

#PMVisit: Mufti desperately needs Modi to do a Vajpayee.

India accuses Pakistan of backing the separatist militants.

Modi steered clear of discussing politics during his daylong visit to the disputed area, and instead promised to bring greater economic development and jobs to the Himalayan region.

Omar hit out at chief minister Sayeed for drumbeating ahead of Modi’s visit.

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.

In his 40-minute speech, Modi highlighted progress, promising improved road and rail networks, as well as branches of India’s prestigious management and technology institutes.