Modi is expected to present an economic development package for the region which was devastated by floods in September 2014.
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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday reached Srinagar, in the Indian occupied Kashmir amid strong protests by the separatist activists, ARY News reported. It will be the Narendra Modi’s first tour to valley after the BJP-PDP government came to power in the state. He said the treasure of Delhi is for them and his heart too is with them.
He said he has a development sketch in his mind for Jammu and Kashmir based on the interactions with the leaders of the state including the chief minister and his deputy Nirmal Singh.
In the past, when people had a few money, they wanted to visit Kashmir.
Comparing the devastation from the floods to that in his home state of Gujarat after an natural disaster in 2001, Modi said: “thousands died… homes were destroyed… nobody believed we would be able to rebuild so quickly”. This is not a full-stop but just the beginning.
Vajpayee had on April 18, 2003 rally at the same venue of Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium extended a hand of friendship to Pakistan after a two-year-long stand-off between the two countries and also offered to initiate a process of dialogue between New Delhi and Kashmiri separatists.
Modi addresses the rally in Srinagar on Saturday.
The Prime Minister vowed to carry forward ex-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s three-point vision – Kashmiriyat (coexistence), jamhooriyat (democracy) and insaaniyat (humanity) – for Kashmir.
“I am attracted by Kashmir since I have seen love of the people here”.
Unprecedented security arrangements were been made in the city for the PM’s visit with a massive number of police and paramilitary personnel being deployed in and around the stadium.
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. “I am sorry, Rs 80,000 crore is not a historic speech”, former chief minister Omar Abdullah told a media conference, referring to chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed’s indication that a historic speech was in the offing.
Asserting that solution to all problems lies in generating employment, the PM also promised that development in Jammu and Kashmir will always be his government’s top agenda.
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He reiterated his slogan of “sab ka saath, sab ka vikas” and spoke about his 17-month rule, saying people were not thinking of India competing with china prior to it.
