PM to visit Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday

Asked about ban on separatists “Million March” rally, curbs on separatists and restrictions imposed in Srinagar on eve of PM’s Kashmir visit, he said, “It is job of the state government to make the security arrangements. Our idea of reform should be inclusive and broad based.” he said while inaugurating the conclave being attended by economists from India and overseas.

“By nearly every major indicator, India is doing better than when we took office 17 months ago…”

A day before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir, senior BJP leader and MoS PMO Dr Jitendra Singh Friday said Modi-led NDA government is committed to carry forward the former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s legacy on Jammu and Kashmir.

“The theme of the DEC this year is ‘Realising India’s JAM (Jan-Dhan Aadhar Mobile) Vision”, a finance ministry statement said.

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.

He said more than US$300 million has been earmarked for farmers whose crops were ruined in the September 2014 deluge, which claimed more than 300 lives.

GDP growth is up and inflation is down, foreign investment is up, current account deficit is down.

For his part, Modi said if India and China can inherit traditional friendship and strengthen cooperation, they would not only enhance the happiness of the people of their respective countries, but also contribute to the revival of Asian and developing countries and help bring about growth of the world economy.

He also spoke about the maximum gain for each sector, “Maximum value for every rupee spent. Maximum technology penetration among masses”.

“The priority of the state government right now is to address the alienation especially among the youth and kick-start a developmental process to not only rebuild the flood-hit public and private infrastructure, but also ensure long-term economic prosperity of the people in all the regions and sub-regions of the state”, he said. “This needs to be harnessed so that to become a nation of job creators not job seekers”.

State governments and local regulators, which decide tariffs, have long sold power below cost to win votes, undermining past attempts at reform, including a 2012 rescue plan under Modi’s predecessor. “Our financial reforms empower the poor to fight poverty themselves”, Modi said, adding that in the last 17 months, the government has brought 190 million people into the banking system. “Empowering the poor through financial inclusion and social security will provide a more stable and lasting solution”, the Prime Minister added.