Union ministers conclude Kashmir tour
For the first time in seven decades, Union ministers have visited villages to meet the common people.
ALTAF THAKUR , BJP leader
SRINAGAR: Union minister for information and technology Ravi Shankar Prasad on Friday visited north Kashmir’s Sopore town and met several delegations comprising panchayat members and the BJP workers, while HRD minister Ramesh Pokhriyal also met delegations in the city.
Besides, e-inauguration of a trauma hospital at Watergam, Prasad also met delegations at the Dak Banglow, Sopore and some of the delegates even demanded district status for north Kashmir’s Sopore town. In the afternoon, Prasad left for New Delhi.
Prasad on Wednesday afternoon had visited north Kashmir’s Baramulla town, besides inaugurating an indoor stadium at Khawjabagh, Baramulla. He also met several delegations in the town and had tea at a local tea stall in the market.
Union HRD minister Ramesh Pokhriyal also met several delegations at the Sher-e-kashmir International Convention Centre and discussed different issues with delegations.
The BJP state spokesperson Altaf Thakur termed the visits of Union ministers to Kashmir a success.
“After the successful trip of the Union minister’s, we have learnt that the second phase of the visits will be held either in March or April.’’
Thakur, who accompanied some of the ministers, said that people who met the Union ministers
did not talk about Article 370 but stressed on the developmental projects which will be sanctioned to J&K.
“Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi met 38 delegations in Srinagar while Prasad held meeting with 31 delegations in north Kashmir,g Kishan
Reddy met 24 delegations in Ganderbal and 30 in Kangan.around a dozen delegations met Pokhriyal in Srinagar.’’
Thakur said that today was the last day of Union Ministers visit to Kashmir.
“It’s for first time in seven decades that Union ministers visited villages to meet the common people.’’
On Wednesday, Union Minister, Mukthar Abbas Naqvi amid tight security had briefly visited Lal Chowk, the business nerve centre of the city and interacted with some street vendors and shopkeepers.
In last four days, a group of four Union ministers had participated in several programs in three districts - Srinagar, Ganderbal and Baramulla, besides, taking part in series of developmental projects.
Though MOS home Reddy also visited Lethpora in Pulwama, south Kashmir, the visit was confined to a CRPF camp in the area.
However, leaders of different mainstream parties had described these visits as an optics even daughter of Mehbooba Mufti, termed it as photo op in one of her tweets.