Modi opens purse strings for J&K, announces Rs 80,000-cr package

Modi, during his day-long visit to the state, invoked ex-Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s three-point formula to resolve the Kashmir issue.

The jam packed Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium here erupted in joyous rapture when Modi announced the much awaited economic package for the state.

Modi said: “This is not the end, but the beginning of my dream for Kashmir. 

“Not only Delhi’s treasures, but Delhi’s heart is for the people of Kashmir,” he added. The all-inclusive package will cover relief for the 2014 flood victims, farmers, businessmen, youth employment, tourism, infrastructure development, education and healthcare.

The Prime Minister also inaugurated the 450 megawatt second phase of the Baglihar power project in Ramban district in Jammu region and the four-laning of the Udhampur-Bannihal stretch of the Jammu-Srinagar national highway. Modi said in Srinagar that “we have to follow the path shown by Atal ji. From this stage, Atal ji had raised the slogan of ‘Kashmiriyat’ (eclectic, Kashmiri culture), ‘Jamhooriyat’ (democracy) and ‘Insaaniyat’ (human values)”.

“I repeat those words and say that the development of Jammu and Kashmir has to stand on those three pillars. Without the eclectic, sufist culture of ‘Kashmiriyat’ not only Kashmir, but entire India is incomplete. The massive participation of people in Kashmir in the 2003 elections was a great contribution to democracy based on the principle of ‘Jamhooriyat’. Even if the world changes through technological advances, nothing can be achieved without the human values of ‘Insaaniyat’.”

Modi said his “first priority is relief for the flood victims, for farmers, for businessmen, for employment to local youth and infrastructure development”.

On tourism, the Prime Minister said 1.75 crore Indians go abroad as tourists every year.

“Why can’t we woo 5 per cent of those 1.75 crore Indian tourists to visit Kashmir through better infrastructural facilities? There is scope for adventure tourism and eco-tourism here and more tourist destinations can be built through development of infrastructure,” he added.

Modi then flew to Chanderkote town in Ramban where he inaugurated a power project and also the four-laning of the Udhampur-Bannihal stretch of the Jammu-Srinagar national highway. 

Speaking at Chanderkote, Modi said the Rs 80,000 crore package was just the beginning of central assistance to the state provided it is efficiently and effectively spent in the coming days.