Porni Banerjee | ০৭ মার্চ ২০২৪ ১৬ : ৩০Porni Banerjee

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Srinagar on Thursday and unveiled a slew of development projects worth more than Rs 6,400 crore.

Participating in the ‘Viksit Bharat Viksit Jammu Kashmir’ initiative, PM Modi launched the ‘Holistic Agriculture Development Programme’ worth Rs 5,000 crore to boost the agricultural sector in the Valley. The sector includes major domains of agri-economy viz Horticulture, Agriculture and Livestock.

“Development projects being dedicated today will boost the development of Jammu and Kashmir. A developed Jammu and Kashmir priority for developed India,” said PM Modi as he addressed the people of the Union Territory. 

He even addressed a public rally to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and said that he was “elated to be amongst the wonderful people of Srinagar.” (“dil jeetne aaya hun...”)

Additionally, PM Modi distributed appointment letters to nearly 1,000 government employees in Jammu and Kashmir.

In the realm of tourism sector, PM Modi also dedicated several projects worth Rs 1,400 under the Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive) schemes.

“Today, I got the opportunity to inaugurate several development projects related to tourism. The power of development, tourism possibilities, empowerment of farmers, and the leadership of the youth of Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir is not just a region, it is the forehead of India. Viksit Jammu and Kashmir is the priority of Viksit Bharat,” Modi said.

Modi’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir comes after Article 370 was repealed on August 5, 2019 that changed the scenario of the Valley, bringing improvements in the areas of public safety, social welfare and access to benefits.

“There was an era when law implemented in other parts of the country could not be implemented in Jammu and Kashmir, when schemes for the welfare of the poor were implemented across the country, but our brothers and sisters of Jammu and Kashmir were deprived of the benefits. See now, how the times have changed,” Modi said.