Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a series of development projects at Srinagar’s Bakshi Stadium on Thursday, marking his initial visit to Kashmir since the government’s abrogation of Article 370, which granted special rights to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.
PM Modi participated in the “Viksit Bharat Viksit Jammu Kashmir” program at Srinagar’s Bakshi Stadium, initiating projects worth almost Rs 6,400 crore aimed at enhancing the agri-economy in the union territory.
As the Lok Sabha election looms and opposition parties advocate for an announcement on Assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, the prime minister’s visit carries political significance regarding potential statements.
The BJP-led Centre annulled the provisions of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, dividing the erstwhile state into the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Ahead of PM Modi’s inaugural visit to Kashmir today, following the abrogation of Article 370, authorities had implemented stringent security measures spanning a 2 km radius, deploying drones and commandos. The heightened security measures were in place to ensure a smooth and incident-free visit. All eyes were on the prime minister’s statements regarding the prevailing political issues during this visit.
According to an official statement, PM Modi launched nationwide projects in the tourism sector today, totaling over Rs 1,400 crore under the “Swadesh Darshan” and “PRASHAD” schemes. This includes an integrated development project for the Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar.
Additionally, he initiated the “Dekho Apna Desh People’s Choice Tourist Destination Poll” and the “Chalo India Global Diaspora” campaign. The prime minister announced tourist destinations selected under the Challenge-Based Destination Development (CBDD) scheme.
According to the statement, Modi distributed appointment letters to nearly 1,000 newly-recruited government employees in Jammu and Kashmir. He also interacted with beneficiaries of central schemes, including women achievers, farmers, and entrepreneurs.
Under the “Holistic Agriculture Development Programme” (HADP) launched by the prime minister, the statement mentioned a significant boost to the agri-economy of the region. It will cover horticulture, agriculture, and livestock husbandry, providing skill-development training to about 2.5 lakh farmers, establishing 2,000 farmers’ service centres, and creating robust value chains.
The tourism projects align with Modi’s vision to enhance the overall experience of tourists and pilgrims. These include the Hazratbal shrine project, tourism facilities in the Northeast Circuit in Meghalaya, Spiritual Circuit in Bihar and Rajasthan, Rural and Tirthankar circuit in Bihar, and various projects in states such as Telangana and Madhya Pradesh.
The prime minister will launch more 43 projects to develop pilgrimage and tourist sites nationwide. Additionally, he will introduce the “Dekho Apna Desh People’s Choice 2024,” the first-ever countrywide initiative to gauge public opinion on tourism.
The “Chalo India Global Diaspora Campaign” aims to encourage the Indian diaspora to become tourism ambassadors and promote visits to India.
