Prime Minister Narendra Modi with J&K Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha during the 'Viksit Bharat, Viksit Jammu & Kashmir' programme, in Srinagar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday arrived in Srinagar to unveil a slew of development projects worth more than Rs 6,400 crore and address a public meeting, officials said.
This was the prime minister's first visit to Kashmir since the BJP-led Centre abrogated the provisions of Article 370, which had given a special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, and bifurcated it into Union territories on August 5, 2019. "Jammu and Kashmir is touching new heights of development and breathing freely after the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution in 2019," Modi said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks during the 'Viksit Bharat, Viksit Jammu & Kashmir' programme. "The development projects being dedicated today will boost the development of Jammu and Kashmir. A developed Jammu and Kashmir is the priority for a developed India," he said.
CRPF personnel stand guard near Jammu & Kashmir national highway, on the day of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kashmir, in Jammu. Security personnel have been deployed in large numbers along the routes to be taken by Modi in Srinagar while barricades have been set up at several places, they said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Nazim, a resident of J&K's Pulwama district, during the 'Viksit Bharat, Viksit Jammu & Kashmir' programme. It was a dream-come-true moment for Nazim Nazeer as Prime Minister Narendra Modi not only took a selfie with him but also referred to him as a "friend".
After inaugurating several development projects, Modi said he was "elated to be among the wonderful people of Srinagar." Describing Jammu and Kashmir as the crown of the country, the prime minister said the path to building a developed Jammu and Kashmir will emerge from tourism possibilities and empowerment of farmers.
People gather at the venue of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Viksit Bharat, Viksit Jammu & Kashmir' programme. Wearing Modi masks and chanting his name, scores of people from across Jammu and Kashmir reached Srinagar's Bakshi Stadium to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally.
With the Lok Sabha elections round the corner, there was renewed political interests among Opposition parties about the possibility of an announcement on assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir by the Election Commission. However, the prime minister did not mention anything about polls.