- Modi compares IHK with AJK, admits bloodshed, deaths and destruction in disputed state
Life was affected in different parts of the Indian-held Kashmir (IHK) after Hurriyat Conference called for a shutdown ahead of India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the disputed state on Sunday.
Most shops, fuel stations and private businesses remained closed in the wake of the call issued by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Syed Ali Geelani and Yasin Malik. Besides Srinagar, south and north Kashmir also wore a deserted look. The Indian media reported that the security has been tightened across the disputed state especially in the valley and Udhampur.
Soon after his arrival, Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the longest road tunnel that links Kashmir Valley with Jammu by an all-weather route and reduces the distance by 30km, in the presence of Jammu Kashmir Governor NN Vohra and Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti.
“Some people need to look at the condition of Pakistani side of Kashmir (Azad Jammu Kashmir), which ‘lags’ behind on the scale of development. We want to show to the people of that parts of the state that there can be development on this side of Kashmir,” he said, while addressing the Kashmiri people on the other side of the Line of Control.
“Kashmiri youths have two options: tourism and terrorism. For 40 years, terrorism gave you nothing but bloodshed, deaths and destruction. Had you chosen tourism, the benefits today would have been phenomenal,” he said after the inauguration. “Want to tell the Kashmiri youth what actually is the power of stones. On one side, youth in Kashmir throwing stone. On other side, people giving their blood and sweat, cutting rocks for development,” he added.
After the inauguration, Modi along with Vohra and Mehbooba travelled in an open jeep through the tunnel for some distance. Then, they posed for a photograph with the engineers who were involved in construction of the tunnel.
Earlier, Chief Minister Mehbooba said the tunnel would bring Kashmir closer to India. “The tunnel will not just reduce the physical distance but bring Kashmir closer to India. The inauguration of tunnels will also help to join the hearts of the people,” she said. She thanked the Indian prime minister for his ‘support’ during the ‘unrest in the state’ in 2016.
The tunnel, bypassing snow-bound upper reaches, will reduce the journey time by two hours and provide a safe, all-weather route to commuters travelling from Jammu and Udhampur to Ramban, Banihal and Srinagar. The tunnel is equipped with security systems, and is expected to boost tourism and economic activities in the disputed state.
The Chenani-Nashri Tunnel is a single-tube bi-directional tunnel with a 9.35-metre carriageway and a vertical clearance of 5 metres. There is also a parallel escape tunnel, with ‘Cross Passages’ connecting to the main tunnel at intervals of 300 metres. It also has smart features such as an integrated traffic control system; surveillance, ventilation and broadcast systems; firefighting system; and SOS call-boxes at every 150 metres.