Modi will spend Diwali in Kashmir

New Delhi: In a special gesture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Kashmir on Diwali and spend time with flood- hit people there.

In a special gesture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Srinagar on Diwali and spend time with flood- hit people there. The Prime Minister tweeted: “Will be in Srinagar on Diwali, 23rd October & will spend the day with our sisters & brothers affected by the unfortunate flood.”

The PM’s special gesture has come after Jammu and Kashmir was devastated by an unprecedented flood in September. The Centre had approved a package of ` 1,000 crores for the relief and rehabilitation efforts in the state.

The PM is likely to meet delegations from various sections of the society at Raj Bhavan in Srinagar, sources said.

The visit will come in the backdrop of an inter- ministerial team, comprising representatives from various ministries, already camping in the state to assess the damage caused by the floods.

The delegation includes officials from the ministries of home, finance, agriculture and rural development. The delegation has already met the state government officials. They have also interacted with the affected people in a bid to gather data on the extent of damage caused to dwellings, crops, livestock, roads, bridges, embankments and other govern-

I appreciate the gesture of the Prime Minister to mark Diwali by spending it with the flood- affected people of J& K in Srinagar, the worst hit

— OMAR ABDULLAH J& K CM

ment properties.

While the Centre has announced a package of ` 1,000 crore, state chief minister Omar Abdullah had urged the Central government for a special package of ` 44,000 crores.

Meanwhile, the PM’s decision to travel to Srinagar on Diwali evoked mixed response from political parties. While Mr Abdullah welcomed the move, the Opposition PDP was guarded in appreciating the gesture, saying it would have been better had it been on the occasion of Id just after the floods.

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, who was recently removed from the post of the party spokesperson, sought to see the political angle in the Prime Minister’s visit to Srinagar. He tweeted stating that the visit could have been an excellent idea if an election was not looming. There is speculation that the EC may announce dates for elections in the state soon.