PM Modi Kashmir Visit Highlights: PM Modi says, ‘Dil Jeetne Aaya Hun,’ motivates people to ‘Wed in India’

This liveblog has been ended.

Addressing his first rally in Srinagar since the abrogation of Article 370, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “We see lotus everywhere in the lakes here. The logo of the Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association, formed 50 years ago, also has a lotus. Is it a coincidence or a sign of nature that the BJP‘s symbol is also a lotus and Jammu & Kashmir has a deep connection with the lotus.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tore into the Opposition for ‘Modi has no family’ attack and said all you people are ‘Modi ka Parivar’. His statement comes a few days after the BJP leaders launched a massive campaign to counter Lalu Yadav‘s remarks.

“Congress was misguiding not only people of Jammu and Kashmir, but the entire nation on Article 370. Some families had a chokehold on Kashmir. It suffered under ‘parivarvaad’ and graft for years,” PM Narendra Modi said in Kashmir while targetting the grand-old party.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Srinagar said, “Today, I got the opportunity to inaugurate several development projects related to tourism… The power of development, tourism possibilities, empowerment of farmers, and the leadership of the youth of Jammu and Kashmir. The path to building a developed Jammu and Kashmir will emerge from here. J&K is not just a region, it is the forehead of India. Viksit J&K is the priority of Viksit Bharat…”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his first visit to Srinagar since the abrogation of Article 370, launched projects worth over Rs 6,400 from Srinagar’s Bakshi stadium.

After promoting ‘Make in India‘ for years, PM Modi in Srinagar on Thursday gave a call for ‘Wed in India’ and asked the people to get married in the country rather than spending thousands of dollars abroad.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a public rally in Srinagar and said, “Dil jeetne aaya hun (I have come here to win hearts)."

In Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday distributed appointment letters at Srinagar’s Bakshi Stadium.

At the Bakshi Stadium, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said, “On behalf of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, I welcome PM Modi in Srinagar. In the last 10 years, the development of J&K has been PM Modi’s priority. Today, J&K is shining with pride. For the last 3 decades, the valley of Kashmir was bled to death by terrorism and injustice and today the flag of peace and development is flying high here under your leadership…”

As PM Modi reached Srinagar, ex-BDC member, Aashfa Tabassum told ANI, “…PM Modi has done good work. We hope that he will do good work for us too. He has provided us with schemes and houses for the poor. There are good schemes for women too…”

Former chief minister and National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah criticised the Jammu and Kashmir administration on Wednesday, claiming that

thousands of government employees had been instructed to gather at specific locations before dawn to be transported to Modi’s rally venue.

“Employees, men and women in 1000s are being asked to assemble between 4:30 am and 5:30 am in the freezing temperatures to be bused to the venue. This participation isn’t optional, it’s compulsory. Employees who don’t show up are being threatened with disciplinary action by their dept heads,” he said on X.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Srinagar on Thursday afternoon. He is scheduled to address a public rally and inaugurate several developmental projects.

Posters welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi have been put up across Srinagar amid mass preparations ahead of his visit.

During his visit to Srinagar, PM Modi will also launch the ‘Chalo India Global Diaspora’ campaign. The objective of the campaign is to motivate the Indian diaspora to become ambassadors for Incredible India and advocate for tourism in the country.

Thousands of people have gathered at Srinagar’s Bakshi Stadium to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s ‘Viksit Bharat Viksit Jammu Kashmir’ program.

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s visit to J&K’s Srinagar, flying drones and quadcopters have been temporarily banned in the city for safety concerns.

In a post on X, the Srinagar Police said, “Srinagar city has been declared as ‘Temporary Red Zone’ for the operation of drones and quadcopters as per provisions of Rule 24(2) of Drone Rules, 2021, with immediate effect,” further adding, “As responsible citizens, your cooperation is solicited in this regard.”

Ahead of PM Modi’s visit, Bharatiya Janata Party‘s (BJP) Jammu and Kashmir spokesperson Altaf Thakur said, “For us, the presence of Narendra Modi is going to be a big boost for our cadres. Besides developmental projects, there is every possibility that he will convey some good news to people of Kashmir.”

In a step that will provide a major boost to the agri-economy of the region, ‘Holistic Agriculture Development Programme’ (HADP) to be launched by the Prime Minister. The official statement stated that it will cover the full spectrum of activities in three major domains of horticulture, agriculture and livestock husbandry.

The programme is expected to equip about 2.5 lakh farmers with skill-development training and about 2,000 farmers’ service centres will be established and robust value chains put in place for the welfare of the farming community.

According to an official statement, PM Narendra Modi will launch nationwide projects related to the tourism sector worth more than Rs 1,400 crore under the ‘Swadesh Darshan’ and ‘PRASHAD’ (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive) schemes, including a project for the integrated development of the Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar.

He will also launch the ‘Dekho Apna Desh People’s Choice Tourist Destination Poll’ and the ‘Chalo India Global Diaspora’ campaign as well, besides announcing tourist destinations selected under the Challenge-Based Destination Development (CBDD) scheme.

During his visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will distribute appointment letters to nearly 1,000 newly recruited government employees and also interact with the beneficiaries of various central schemes, including women achievers, farmers and entrepreneurs, according to an official statement.

Stringent security arrangements have been put in place, and the Bakshi Stadium, the venue of the prime minister’s rally, has been draped in tricolour, PTI reported.

The preparations for PM Modi’s visit involve the biggest security exercise in recent times in Srinagar. Thousands of police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed across Srinagar. The areas around Bakshi stadium have turned into security fortress.