–Indian premier announces new projects, jobs for Kashmiri youth ahead of polls
SRINAGAR: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached occupied Kashmir for a daylong visit on Sunday to review development work as Kashmiris fighting Indian occupation called for a shutdown in the Himalayan region.
Shops and businesses were shut while thousands of armed Indian forces and commandos in flak jackets spread out across the area and closed off roads with coiled razor wire and iron barricades to prevent protests and attacks during Modi’s visit.
Traffic was sparse, with buses staying off the roads and few cars venturing out in Srinagar, the main city and the centre of urban dissent against Indian occupation, where Modi is expected later on Sunday. He will also address a public rally in a Hindu-dominated area in Jammu.
Authorities detained dozens of activists overnight and put Kashmiri leaders under house arrest to stop them from staging any protest in Srinagar.
They also shut internet on mobile phones and suspended train services in the Kashmir Valley, a common tactic to make organising protests difficult and discourage dissemination of protest videos.
Modi arrived in the remote mountainous Ladakh region bordering China and Pakistan on Sunday morning, where he inaugurated a university.
Three Kashmiri leaders, known as the Joint Resistance Leadership, called for the strike to protest Modi’s visit.
“A person who in his pursuit to crush Kashmiri resistance ordered killings and damaging properties, hurting Kashmiri economy and other oppressive measures deserves only a protest from those he has oppressed,” the leaders said in a statement.
MODI DEFENDS BJP GOVT:
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his day-long visit raised the issue of Kashmiri Pandits and said that his government is committed to protect their rights, dignity and pride.
“The country will never forget the violent times in which they were forced out of their homes,” he had said.
Taking the note of Kashmiri Pandits hardships he said, “The central government is committed to mitigate the hardships of the Kashmiri Pandits, our displaced brothers and sisters and is devoted to restore their pride.”
He also announced 5 more medical colleges to be constructed in the state, adding that a new Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) will give better professional education to the youth of the state.
He laid the foundation stone for AIIMS, Vijay Pur and AIIMS, Awantipora and for the construction of Northern Regional Centre Campus of Indian Institute of Mass Communication at Jammu and also launch the University of Ladakh, the first-ever varsity in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir.
“In the last 70 years, there were only 500 seats in Jammu and Kashmir but with the continued efforts of the Bharatiya Janata party, these seats have been doubled. The new 750 bedded AIIMS will not only provide better healthcare facilities to the people of J&K but would also become beneficial for medical students of nearby areas,” the Indian premier said.
Modi further said, “The transportation in the state is being strengthened in the state. The road network is being improved and new roads are being constructed to make stronger connectivity. Rs. 40,000 crore is being allocated for the same.”
The Indian prime minister said that over three lac tourists visited Leh during the last year and around a lac also travelled to the Kargil district during that period.
“This figure is around half the total number of tourists who visited the Kashmir Valley last year. Tourism in Ladakh will reach new heights in the coming years and I promise that,” Modi said
The Indian prime minister is slated to lay the foundation stones for developmental projects worth Rs 35,000 crore and also inaugurate few other projects worth Rs 9,000.
Modi said that the Congress has been filling the pockets of middlemen in the name of farm loan waiver.
Praising the Interim Budget presented in Parliament on February 1, the PM said that it is designed to help farmers as well as people from all sections of the society.
“Over 12 crore families of farmers who have just two hectares of land will now get an annual direct bank transfer of Rs 6,000. This amount shall be credited to their bank accounts in three equal installments of Rs 2,000,” he said referring to the Prime Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi.
The Indian premier said when Finance Minister Piyush Goyal was reading out the budget proposals in Parliament, “the faces of Congress leaders turned pale”.
Modi said the 10 per cent reservation in jobs and educational sectors for economically weak members of general category will benefit the youth of Kashmir.
Anti-India sentiment runs deep in Kashmir, which in recent years has seen renewed attacks and repeated public protests. Nearly 70,000 people have been killed in the uprising and the ensuing Indian military crackdown.
Kashmiris have been fighting Indian rule since 1989, demanding that the Indian-occupied areas be united either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country.
