PM To Visit JK November 5

SRINAGAR: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be visiting Jammu and Kashmir on November 5 where resentment is growing over the absence of financial assistance from the Centre following last year's devastating flood.

The announcement came after the J&K chief minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed called on Modi at his 7 Race Course residence on Thursday to discuss "wide-ranging issues including relations with Pakistan, cross-LoC trade and travel, skill development, infrastructure building, problems faced by refugees from Pakistan occupied Kashmir and the Agenda of the Alliance of the coalition government," J&K government’s official spokesman said.

Officials said Modi will inaugurate the second phase of Baghliar power project during his visit to J&K where the BJP is in a coalition government with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), "We are also hopeful that the Prime Minister will announce the much-delayed financial assistance package to resuscitate the economy and infrastructure in the state during the visit," a senior leader of Peoples Democratic Party told The Citizen.

Over the past three months, the J&K's finance minister, Dr Haseeb Drabu, has held talks over a developmental package for the state with the Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and representatives of Niti Ayoug. During the recently concluded autumn session of the state legislature, Dr Drabu said the financial package "for rebuilding sustainable infrastructure" would stretch over a period of five to 10 years.

Although the rumours of the financial package by the Centre for the state have been doing rounds for a long time now, the absence of any has caused much resentment and perpetuated the sufferings of people who lost their homes and livelihood in last year's flood.

During his meeting with Modi, Mufti "observed that adverse relations with Pakistan negatively impact the political and developmental processes in the state,” the official spokesman said.

The chief minister is also believed to have stressed on implementing the "Agenda of the Alliance" that was worked out between PDP and BJP after over two months of negotiations for government formation in the state early this year.

The alliance agenda seeks dialogue on both internal and external fronts for resolution to Kashmir issue, phase-wise withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) from J&K, return of power projects to the State and a financial package for the flood hit people.

"Chief Minister also discussed the Agenda of the Alliance of the coalition government, in particular transfer of Dul Hasti and Urihydel power projects to the state. He said with liberal funding, the state government will accelerate developmental activities, particularly in the core sectors of health, education, etc." the spokesperson said.