SRINAGAR: People in large numbers have reached the Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be addressing a public rally during his one-day visit to Kashmir. The people, both men and women are eagerly waiting to hear what PM Modi offers to them in his first visit to Kashmir after the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A and bifurcation of erstwhile J&K state into two Union Territories.
PM Modi has arrived in Srinagar and has also arrived at the Bakshi Stadium, where he would launch developmental projects apart from addressing a public rally. The PM was welcomed on stage by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, who presented a shawl to him. The “pro-Modi and pro-BJP slogans” are renting the air.
Seeing the enthusiasm of the people at the stadium, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said if any place could hold 2 lakh people that too could have proved inadequate to accommodate the people, who want to hear PM Modi.
It is the first public rally to be addressed by the PM in Srinagar since November 2015.
It would also be the second rally in J&K to be addressed by Modi in a fortnight. On February 20, Modi visited Jammu and addressed a public rally at Maulana Azad Stadium.
The PM is visiting Kashmir during changed times, when the militancy violence has declined considerably and stone pelting has nearly ended. There has been no shutdown call from the separatists for his visit which used to be the case earlier.
Srinagar has been decked to receive the PM. The Bakshi stadium has been draped with tricolor while BJP has installed flags and banners and pictures of Modi in Srinagar including the entry and exit points and main chowks and bridges.
“People of Kashmir are eagerly waiting for PM Modi’s visit. There is great enthusiasm among the people and they have wholeheartedly welcomed him. It is a historic rally,” J&K BJP president Ravindra Raina said.
The administration has directed government employees and officials of many departments to attend this rally. Besides, beneficiaries of government schemes have also been asked to attend the PM rally.
“We are looking forward to the PM’s visit. We are eagerly waiting to hear from him. We hope that he will announce some measures and initiatives to tackle unemployment and provide jobs to unemployed youth,” a youth, Javed Ahmed said.
He said people hope that the PM would announce some Kashmir-specific measures that would go a long way in healing their wounds.
An elderly person Mohammad Jabbar said there is no doubt that Kashmir has changed in the last few years.
“Nobody can deny it. The whole of Kashmir is waiting for PM Modi’s speech in Srinagar rally. We want to hear from him and hope he would offer some Kashmir specific incentives and packages,” he said.
Multi layer security has been put in place in Srinagar for the PM's visit. The security men have sansitised the Bakshi stadium and its adjoining areas ahead of the PM’s rally and troops are maintaining constant surveillance of Srinagar city through drones and UAVs.
The authorities have also issued travel advisory and cancelled exams scheduled for today.
PM Modi would unveil about Rs 5000 crore worth ‘Holistic Agriculture Development Programme’ for boosting agri-economy in J&K. He will also launch multiple tourism projects worth over Rs 1400 crores under Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive) scheme including project for ‘Integrated Development of Hazratbal Shrine’, Srinagar.
He would distribute appointment orders to about 1000 new government recruits and also interact with beneficiaries of various government schemes.