J&K breathes free... from shackles of Art 370, dynastic politics: Modi

(head) of India, Modi said “a head held high is a symbol of development and respect”. He said he is “elated and indebted” for the love he has received in Srinagar and that he will “leave no stone unturned to return the debt of this love”.

He told the crowd — many among them government employees and BJP workers, and the UT administration said around one lakh people joined online from districts of the Valley — that “the feeling of arriving in heaven on earth cannot be described in words”.

He said he is working hard to win the hearts of the people of J&K and he believes that he is on the right path.

Listing efforts made for the

“naya Jammu and Kashmir for which Syama Prasad Mookerjee sacrificed his life”, Modi said his government’s decision to include Paharis among other groups beingincludedunderthescheduled Tribesinj&kwillbenefitthecommunities.

“Refugees from Pakistan, the Valmiki community and sanitationworkersgettingvotingrights, fulfilling the demand of the Valmiki community for SC category, reservation of seats in the Assembly for Scheduled Tribes, Paddari tribe, and the inclusion of Paddari tribe, Pahari ethnic group, Gadda Brahmin and Koli communities in the Scheduled Tribes” were among the steps taken.

He said “dynastic politics” in J&K — he did not take any name

— deprived the right to reservation to other backward classes in panchayats and urban local bodies as provided by the government. “Today, every class is being returned its rights.”

Dynastic politics and corruption, he said, had gone hand in hand in J&K for a very long time and the “decimation” of the J&K Bank was a result of that. “They appointed their friends and relatives to the bank and left it struggling.” He spoke of Rs 1,000 crore assistance to the bank and action against wrongful appointments.

“The Anti-corruption Bureau is still investigating thousands of such appointments. And over the last five years, thousands of youth in J&K have been provided employment with absolute transparency,” he said.

Addressing the Viksit Bharat Viksit Jammu Kashmir programme in Srinagar, he dedicated the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme worth about Rs 5000 crore and launched multiple projects related to the tourism sector worth more than Rs 1400 crore under Swadesh Darshan and PRASHAD scheme including the project for Integrated Development of Hazratbal Shrine, Srinagar.

He also spoke to beneficiaries of government schemes at the venue and via video conference.

Modi launched the ‘Dekho Apna Desh People’s Choice Tourist Destination Poll’ and ‘Chalo India Global Diaspora Campaign’ and announced tourist destinations selected under the Challenge Based Destination Development (CBDD) Scheme.

Stating that the power of development, potential of tourism, capabilities of farmers and leadership of the youth of J&K will pave the way for “Viksit Jammu Kashmir”, he recalled the time when laws implemented in the country were not implemented in J&K.

Noting the rapid pace of development in the UT, Modi said two AIIMS are coming up in Kashmir and Jammu. He said seven new medical colleges, two cancer hospitals and institutes like IIT and IIM are being set up in the region.

Highlighting the efforts of the government for the development of the youth of J&K in every field, he said new opportunities are being created, from skill development to sports. He said modern sports facilities are being built in every district of J&K.

He extended his best wishes to the nation for the upcoming month of Ramzan. “It is my wish that everyone should get the message of peace and harmony from the month of Ramzan. Tomorrow is Maha Shivratri, I wish everyone the best for this holy festival,” he said.

J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Union Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh and Rajya Sabha MP Gulam Ali Khatana were with the Prime Minister on the dais.