Prime Minister Narendra Modi descended on Jammu Tuesday, promising Rs 32,000 cr worth of transformative infrastructure projects for the long-neglected region of Jammu and Kashmir. Spanning sectors like transportation, education and health, this development blitz seems strategically targeted at Kashmiri voters ahead of 2024 elections.
The centerpiece is India’s first electric rail service in the Kashmir valley, connecting Sangaldan and Baramulla. Modi personally flagged off the new train route touting improved passenger comfort through state-of-the-art, ballastless track.
He also distributed some 1,500 appointment letters to newly recruited civil servants and interacted with scheme beneficiaries in a public rally at Jammu’s Maulana Azad Stadium.
Vowing to Fulfill 70-Year-Old Kashmiri Dreams
In his speech, Modi expressed complete confidence in fulfilling Kashmiri aspirations, claiming their dreams of the last 70 years will be realized under his leadership.
“I have full faith in you and we will make ‘Viksit Jammu and Kashmir.’ Your dreams of 70 years will be fulfilled by Modi in the coming years,” he dramatically pronounced.
The Prime Minister attributed lack of Kashmiri development exclusively to Article 370 – which granted semi-autonomous constitutional status before Modi unilaterally abolished it in 2019.
“Article 370 was the biggest roadblock in the development of Jammu and Kashmir. However, the BJP government has abrogated it. Jammu and Kashmir is moving towards an overall development now,” Modi boasted.
Misplaced Priorities or Calculated Strategy?
While the slew of development projects seem directed at uplifting ordinary Kashmiris’ welfare, critics see it as politically opportunistic theatrics. Launching multibillion-dollar infrastructure plans makes little tangible impact on people’s daily economic reality.
They allege Modi is merely chasing headlines to increase BJP’s electoral fortunes in a fragile region torn by decades of separatist conflict. Incidentally, the PM openly appealed for 370 Lok Sabha seats for BJP and 400 for their National Democratic Alliance in 2024 – numbers that could return him as Prime Minister for a third term.
“Because of the abrogation of Article 370, I have asked people to help BJP win 370 seats and NDA win 400 seats in elections,” Modi unabashedly declared.
Human Rights Concerns Persist
Ultimately, despite Modi’s development promises and Lt Governor Manoj Sinha’s insistence of improved security, Jammu and Kashmir remains emotionally scarred. Locals continue facing rampant human rights violations, arrests and undue harassment by security forces.
Without reconciliation and justice for past atrocities, even billions in infrastructure may do little to heal wounds or secure Kashmiri hearts. As one youth told media: “There is a lot of anger against the government…we want peace with dignity. We want jobs so we can live normal lives.”
Perhaps Modi should focus more on restoring Kashmiris’ dignity than chasing votes.