PM Modi's visit will be turning point in J&K's history, says CM Sayeed

Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit here will be a "turning point" in the history of Jammu and Kashmir and the people of the state have great expectations from it.

"People have great expectations from the visit of the Prime Minister who is a visionary and has his eyes fixed on overall development of Jammu and Kashmir. I see this as a turning point in the history of the state," Sayeed said while recalling former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's address to the people at Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium at Sonwar in 2003.

Modi is scheduled to address a rally at the same venue on November 7.

The Chief Minister, while addressing a public meeting here, cited several instances where the Centre extended wholehearted support in core sectors linked to connectivity, healthcare, education and rural development.

He said the Prime Minister had personally intervened in speeding up work of four-laning of Srinagar-Jammu National Highway and broadening the scope of railway network in the state.

"I met Modi a couple of times and realized that he genuinely wants to win the hearts and minds of people of the state," Sayeed said.

He also praised Modi for inviting his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in his swearing-in ceremony last year.

Urging India and Pakistan to shun confrontation and engage in a meaningful dialogue, Sayeed said the state is the first casualty of tension between the two countries.

He stressed that if India has to emerge as a world power, it will have to foster and maintain friendly ties with all its neighbours, including Pakistan.