PM Modi arrives in Kashmir

Sources close to India TV have said that PM Modi will announce a package of Rs 20,000 crore for the financial assistance for the flood victims of Srinagar and along with it a Rs 50,000 crore package for the infrastructure development in the state.

PM Modi’s BJP partners the People’s Democratic Party or PDP in governing Jammu and Kashmir. He, however, urged the Jammu Muslims to be united against the communal and fanatic people of India.

“We have ensured maximum value for every rupee spent, maximum empowerment for our poor, maximum technology reach to the masses, among other things”, Modi said, adding, “What we have done in the last 17 months is to bring 190 million people into the banking system”.

State Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu said, “We expect Modi’s visit to give a push to the Agenda of Alliance”.

The main city in Indian Kashmir was under a security lockdown today to prevent protests during the visit of Indian prime minister Narendra Modi.

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”.

“I would not like to speak on what the Prime Minister should speak or not speak. Today it is said India’s economy is growing faster than that of China”.

Modi said within months of the launch of micro-units development and refinance agency scheme the government laid the foundation for 120 lakh new jobs by disbursing loans totaling Rs 38,000 crore to 60 lakh micro and small businesses.

Modi then flew to Chanderkote town in Ramban where he inaugurated a power project and also the four-laning of the Udhampur-Bannihal stretch of the Jammu-Srinagar national highway. “It will cut the journey time from 12 hours to three-and-a-half hours”. At Baglihar, Modi will address a public meeting.

“About 15 to 20 percent population of the state is comprised of refugees who came here after 1947”.

India has long accused Pakistan of pushing separatist Muslim fighters into India’s part of Kashmir to foment revolt in the disputed Muslim-majority region.

Restrictions have been imposed in the downtown area as well as around the venue were the Prime Minister is scheduled to address a public rally in valley.

When requested about the potential for the Prime Minister’s saying a package deal for the state, he stated: “People have nice expectations from Prime Minister Narendra Bhai, and Narendra Bhai, too, takes care of their considerations and expectations, and I am hopeful that he won’t let the individuals of M&N”.