PM Modi to visit Srinagar
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Srinagar today for the first time since the abrogation of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. His visit will mark his participation in the ‘Viksit Bharat Viksit Jammu Kashmir’ program at Bakshi Stadium, where he will unveil the ‘Holistic Agriculture Development Programme’ with an investment of ₹5,000 crore aimed at boosting the agricultural sector in the Union territory. Additionally, projects worth over ₹1,400 crore in the tourism sector, including the ‘Integrated Development of Hazratbal Shrine’ in Srinagar, will be launched during the event.
PM Modi to visit Srinagar
Key initiatives such as the ‘Dekho Apna Desh People’s Choice Tourist Destination Poll’, the first nationwide endeavor to gauge the nation’s tourism preferences, and the ‘Chalo India Global Diaspora Campaign’, which seeks to engage the Indian diaspora in promoting tourism to India, will also be inaugurated.
Security measures have been intensified around the Bakshi Stadium, with drones, CCTV cameras, and increased foot patrols deployed in a two-kilometre radius of the venue. Schools along the route are closed, and board exams scheduled for Thursday have been postponed to ensure the smooth conduct of the event.
The Srinagar Police has implemented a temporary ban on the flying of drones and quadcopters in the city, designating it a “Temporary Red Zone” for drone operations during the period of the visit. Unauthorized drone operations in the city are subject to penalties as per the relevant provisions of Rule 24(2) of Drone Rules, 2021.
To bolster security measures, marine commandos have been stationed in the Jhelum River and Dal Lake to prevent any potential subversive activities.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) anticipates a turnout of around one lakh attendees at PM Modi’s rally at Bakshi Stadium. The party has organized preparations for the event, assigning tasks to various departments and encouraging mobilization efforts.
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Meanwhile, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah has criticized the Jammu and Kashmir administration for allegedly coercing government employees to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally in Srinagar. Abdullah contends that thousands of employees were compelled to assemble before dawn and transported to the venue under the threat of disciplinary action. He accuses the government of orchestrating the crowd to create a false impression of support for the BJP, asserting that attendees were not present willingly. Additionally, Abdullah alleges that private schools were coerced into providing buses for transporting employees to the rally.
