PM invokes Vajpayee, pitches for taking J&K growth story ahead

On his first visit to J&K since the formation of new government in the state, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday invoked fromer PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee and said ‘Insaniyat, Kashmiriyat and Jamhooriat’ will be the path adopted for taking the state forward and promised to work shoulder-to-shoulder with the Mehbooba Mufti dispensation.

Modi said the Centre would work with the state government for changing the destiny of J&K, fulfilling the aspirations of its people and taking it to “new heights”.

“People of Jammu and Kashmir had enormous faith in Atal Bihari Vajpayee... Very few leaders commanded such respect...He used to say ‘Insaniyat (humanity), Kashmiriyat and Jamhooriyat (democracy)’ are key to the progress of J&K. We have to take the state to new heights through these pillars,” said Modi, while addressing a public meeting, after inaugurating the sports stadium.

“The dream of Vajpayee ji – Insaniyat, Kashmiriyat and Jamuriyat – we have filled with colours of ‘sab ka saath sab ka vikas’. We have to take everybody together to fulfill those dreams. He (Vajpayee) used to say that if India has to progress then we will have to take along J&K on the path of development, Modi said.

“The Government of India with full force will move forward shoulder-to-shoulder and step-by-step with the state government for changing the destiny of J&K and fulfill the aspirations of people of the state”, the PM said.

He also addressed a convocation of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University and inaugurated a multi-specialty hospital in Katra.

The PM lauded Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, saying that he hoped that the formation of new government led by “a young and energetic leadership will usher in a new era of development across the state.” “Mehbooba ji does not talk about weather, but she always talks about bridge, road and development. When leadership has such dedication towards development, then development becomes imminent,” he added.