Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a public rally at Bakshi Stadium in Srinagar on Thursday. As he spoke to the audience, he criticized the opposition, including the Congress, accusing certain families of misleading not only the people of Jammu and Kashmir but the entire nation regarding the now-abrogated Article 370.
The Centre, led by PM Modi, revoked the provisions of Article 370 on August 5, 2019, and reorganized the erstwhile state into the Union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
“For decades, the Congress and its allies deceived the people of Jammu and Kashmir and the country for political gains in the name of Article 370. The people of Jammu and Kashmir are now aware of the truth about whether the region truly benefited from Article 370 or if only a few families benefited from it. The talent of Jammu and Kashmir is receiving the recognition that it deserves today as there is no Article 370 now,” stated PM Modi.
This marked PM Modi’s first visit to the Kashmir Valley since Article 370 was revoked in August 2019. During the “Viksit Bharat Viksit Jammu Kashmir” program at Bakshi Stadium, Modi announced various projects related to agriculture and tourism, unveiling development initiatives valued at over ₹6,400 crore.
Expressing his sentiments, PM Modi said, “The feeling of coming to this heaven on earth is beyond words… There was an era when the law implemented in other parts of the country could not be implemented in Jammu and Kashmir. Additionally, schemes for the welfare of the poor were implemented across the country, but our brothers and sisters in Jammu and Kashmir were deprived of the benefits. But now the times have changed.”
Besides addressing the public, PM Modi distributed appointment letters to almost 1,000 newly recruited government employees in J&K. He also engaged with beneficiaries of various central schemes, including women achievers, farmers, and entrepreneurs.
Speaking of, hundreds of BJP members arrived at the location sporting multicolored turbans. Although the security measures were stringent, officials maintained that there were no limitations on people’s freedom of movement.
Everything was going about as usual, and most stores and other commercial spaces were open in Kashmir.
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