PM Modi Kashmir Visit: PM Modi arrives in Srinagar, his first trip to Valley since Article 370 revocation

Srinagar: Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has landed in Srinagar, his first trip to the Valley since the revocation of Article 370. On February 20, PM Modi had travelled to Jammu and spoke at a public event there. PM Modi will carry on his development agenda, with the launch of several development projects, this time worth over Rs 6,400 crore.

What are Opposition leaders saying?

Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah have criticised the visit, saying that people were being coerced to attend the PM’s rally venue. “Disheartening to see employees being forcibly mobilised to paint a pretty picture that all is well post-2019 & that people here are celebrating their own collective disempowerment & humiliation,” said Mufti on social media platform X

What’s on PM Modi’s agenda? 

PM Modi will kick off projects for the tourism sector under the “Swadesh Darshan” and “PRASHAD” (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive) schemes. This also includes a project for the integrated development of the Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar. Modi will also hand out appointment letters to nearly 1,000 newly recruited government employees in J&K and also interact with the beneficiaries of various central schemes. He will then speak at a public rally at Bakshi Stadium, which will be watched closely for its messaging.