Former Chief Minister and opposition National Conference working president Omar Abdullah yesterday alleged that the state government has issued instructions to its employees including police personnel and daily-rated workers to attend the Prime Minister’s rally.
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Addressing a public meeting at the Sher-e-Kashmir cricket stadium, Modi spoke about resuming cricket matches there, even naming state cricket star Parvez Rasool.
Kashmiri supporters of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shout slogans as they listen to him during a public rally in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Saturday, November 7, 2015.
The Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Shri Mufti Mohammed Sayeed, Union Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari, and Union MoS Dr. Jitendra Singh were present on the occasion.
A senior police officer said restrictions have been imposed in old city and uptown areas of Srinagar falling under the jurisdictions of Khanyar, Rainawari, Nowhatta, M R Gunj, Safakadal, Kralkhud and Maisuma police stations. Another protester was injured in the clashes.
Instead, he focused on an aid package to the region, promising $12bn (£8bn). “That is why I have come to attend the rally”, Abdul Hameed, who claimed to be working as SPO in north Kashmir, said.
BJP’s coalition partner Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) was also hoping the Prime Minister would talk about strengthening trade and travel between two parts of Jammu and Kashmir by opening up new cross-LoC routes.
Modi steered clear of discussing politics during his visit to the disputed area, and instead promised to bring greater economic development and jobs to the troubled Himalayan region.
Pro-freedom groups have been fighting for Kashmir’s right to self-determination since 1989.
“The people of Kashmir have tried many ways from last decades now but nothing has worked for them”.
According to reports, the occupied valley appeared to have been turned into a military garrison for Modi’s visit, with military and security personnel posted at every few steps.
“The package includes rehabilitation of those refugees and also the Kashmiri Pandit migrants who left their homes behind in the Valley”.
Separatists had planned a rally Saturday near the site but his address passed without any major interference and protesters were dispersed by the army before he arrived in the city.
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Initially, the J&K government had thought that allowing people to take part in marches will give them a chance to vent out their anger against the establishment and numbers of people taking part will decline but to their surprise the numbers kept increasing manifold.
