With four-day visit, Rajnath Singh carries forward Modi's Kashmir outreach
Home Minister Rajnath Singh has kicked off the Centre's four-day 'Mission Kashmir'. It is his first visit to the strife-torn region since PM Narendra Modi said the Kashmir issue can't be solved through 'goli' (bullets) or 'gaali' (abuses). Singh has already met CM Mehbooba Mufti and will hold talks with Governor NN Vohra. He will also review the security situation in the state.
'No Home Minister has stayed in J&K this long'
"This is a continuation of PM's Kashmir outreach programme. Rajnath is following on what Modi said on Independence Day. It's rare that the Home Minister will be staying for four days. None in my view has stayed in J&K for so long," said BJP spokesperson Khalid Jehangir.
With Mehbooba Mufti, Rajnath reviews PM's Rs. 80,000cr Development Package
With CM Mufti, Singh reviewed the PM's Rs. 80,000cr Development Package announced in 2015. At the meeting, he observed that the Centre had already sanctioned Rs. 62,599cr, or 78% of the total cost. The Rs. 1,200cr project to rebuild/repair houses damaged due to floods is now complete. Four-laning of the Chenani-Nashri section on the NH-1A is also over. This project cost Rs. 781cr.
Omar Abdullah reminds Rajnath of PM's promise
With this visit, stakes are high for the ruling PDP
Stakes are high for the ruling PDP, whose popularity suffered post last year's unrest. Official figures estimate around a 100 people were killed in the violence and over 1,000 injured, mostly in firing by security forces. It is hoping the Centre makes an offer for dialogue. "It will calm tempers and also help us reach out to people with something in hand," said a PDP leader.
