The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
Packed stadium greets Modi at 1st rally since Art 370 scrapping
PRIME MINISTER Narendra Modi Thursday addressed a packed Bakshi Stadium on his first visit to Kashmir since the revocation of Article 370 in August 2019, but the Opposition called the gathering “forcibly mobilised to paint a pretty picture that all is well post 2019”.
An estimated crowd of 20,000, many from far-off districts such as Shopian and Kupwara, were seen entering the stadium since 6 am.
All roads leading to the venue had been cordoned off and only buses cleared by the security were allowed to drop off people brought in for the Prime Minister’s address.
Ghulam Mohammad from Baramulla, a member of the Pahari community who was present at the venue said, “I have come to thank the Prime Minister for granting us ST status. This was a long-standing demand.” He also thanked the Prime Minister for bringing peace in Jammu & Kashmir and expressed satisfaction at “the changing circumstances” in the Valley.
Another member of the Pahari community, Dr Khursheed, also thanked the Prime Minister stating that “under the PM, equal opportunity has become a reality and he has kept his promise of sabka saath, sabka vikas.”
A policeman in plain clothes from the Baramulla district who sat in the crowd said he started his day at 2 am and stayed at the venue for 12 hours.
Thousands of employees of the Union Territory administration sat along the periphery of the stadium, while the grounds were teeming with BJP workers brought in from all districts of the valley.
Wrapped in party flags and the Tricolour, several party functionaries raised slogans praising the Prime Minister. “We are happy, the PM is here. We hope he addresses the unemployed here,” said Mohammad Rashid Badyari from Nigeen.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister and PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti highlighted the issue of government employees being asked to attend the event, stating, “Disheartening to see employees being forcibly mobilised to paint a pretty picture that all is well post 2019 and that people here are celebrating their own collective disempowerment and humiliation.”
She said the PM’S visit stands contrary to earlier visits by previous Prime Ministers such as Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh at the peak of insurgency.
The Congress, too, slammed the PM, stating that “Modiji has disappointed the people of J&K by not announcing the restoration of statehood and avoiding the core issues of restoration of democracy.”
The National Conference, however, termed the PM’S visit “disappointing” stating that “it's the same worn-out rhetoric that J&K has been hearing for the past five years and yet there's still a lack of confidence in holding elections”.