PM announces Rs 8,000 cr for J&K roads on second visit to state in two months

BJP plans 'Mission 44+', that is winning at least 44 seats of the state's 87, in assembly elections

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached out to the people of Kargil, Ladakh and Jammu today, during what was a busy visit for him to the state of Jammu and Kashmir, his second in the past two months.

Modi visited Kargil and Leh, addressing public rallies at both locations. He inaugurated a 44 MW hydro-electric project in Kargil as also Leh-Kargil-Srinagar transmission system, announced Rs 8,000 crore towards road construction in the state and promised to waive Rs 60 crore the state government owes to the Food Corporation of India.

The PM reiterated his government's commitment to rehabilitate displaced Kashmiri Pandits as also those displaced by terrorism, slammed Pakistan for waging a proxy war on India and lauded the people of Kargil for the heroism shown during the Kargil war of 1999.

Modi also said in Kargil that rampant corruption has made people angry. "I assure that we will fight corruption and work with all those against graft. Corruption has ruined the country," Modi said. The PM said his mantra was "Na khaunga, na khane dunga (neither will I take bribe, nor will I allow anyone to take bribe)." He said if India won the fight against corruption then it would win it battle against poverty.

The PM's second visit to the state in as many months came as a boost to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rank and file in the state. The BJP has set for itself 'Mission 44+', that is winning 44 in the state's 87-member legislature, in the assembly elections slated for later this year.

In the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP won unprecedented three of the state's six seats and 32 per cent vote share. Of the 87-seats, Jammu elects 37, Ladakh four and Kashmir 46. The BJP hopes to do well in Jammu as well as Ladakh regions in the assembly polls, and believes it would be in a position to form the government if not on its own than in alliance.

At the BJP National Council meeting that concluded Saturday, party president Amit Shah in his address had said that assembly elections were due in Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Jharkhand and Maharashtra "and we have to accept the challenge of forming our government in all these states, yes I repeat, in all these states."

Modi said at a public rally in Kargil that he would ask the union cabinet to clear Rs 8,000 crore needed for completing work on four important roads in the state. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had last month met Road and Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and pressed for early completion of Batote-Kishtwar road, Kargil-Zanskar, Domail-Katra road besides fast tracking the four-laning of Srinagar-Jammu National Highway and construction of some tunnels.

Modi spoke about the Kargil infiltration, about which the first information was given by a shepherd Tashi Namgyal. The PM recalled his visit to the town during the 1999 war and said gunfire was heard in those days, when one hears were people clapping. Modi said the people of Kargil had supported the Indian armed forces during the war and he still recalled the excitement and patriotic fervour in the town when Tiger Hill was won. "Today the people here wish to join the development mainstream," he said. In this context, Modi spoke of Pashmina, saffron cultivation and value addition in apple cultivation.

Dressed in traditional Ladakhi attire, Modi said government will do its best to bring a 'kesar' (saffron) revolution in Jammu and Kashmir giving impetus to its production. He said three Ps--Prakash (solar light), Paryavaran (environment) and Paryatan (tourism) are the assets of the state and all efforts would be taken for their development. Modi said there was was a time when PMs never visited this state and he has come here two times already.

During his day's hectic schedule, the Prime Minister inaugurated Nimoo Bazgo hydro-electric project and Leh-Kargil-Srinagar transmission system. In his public rallies, Modi accused Pakistan of continuing proxy war of terrorism against India. He said Islamabad had lost the strength to fight a conventional war. There has been repeated ceasefire violations by Pakistan and increasing number of militant attacks in Kashmir, the latest carried out last night on a BSF convoy at Pampore in South Kashmir's Pulwama district, leaving eight personnel including an officer injured. The Prime Minister said the Indian armed forces were suffering more casualties from terrorism than from war.