Modi’s J&K Visit: Democracy Has Reached Grassroot Level in Jammu And Kashmir, Says PM | Highlights

PM will inaugurate and lay foundation stone of development projects worth over Rs 20,000 crore in Jammu and Kashmir, including the opening of the Banihal-Qazigund road tunnel.

New Delhi: A multi-tier security setup has been put in place ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday. PM Modi is scheduled to visit Palli village, in Samba district from where will address panchayats across the country on ‘Panchayati Raj Diwas’ which is celebrated every year on April 24. He is also scheduled to address a gathering there. An alert has been sounded along the border and a high degree of vigilance is being maintained at vital installations in Jammu and Kashmir in view of the visit, officials were quoted as saying on Friday. Notably, this is Modi’s first major visit to J&K since August 5, 2019, when the Centre removed J&K’s special status under Article 370 and split the state into two UTs. Modi had briefly visited J&K to celebrate Diwali with the armed forces in the Nowshera district on November 4, 2021. Before that, he had visited J&K in April 2019.

Here are the Latest Updates on PM Modi’s visit to Jammu & Kashmir:

13:33 PM: We are thinking about increasing the participation of women in the Panchayati Raj System, India’s sisters and daughters have the tremendous capability which got proven during the pandemic, said PM Modi on Panchayati Raj Day.

13:31 PM: Jammu And Kashmir now becoming an example of ‘sabka saath, sabka vikaas’…tourism has improved in this area”, said PM. 

धरती मां को कैमिकल से मुक्त करना ही होगा।

इसलिए प्राकृतिक खेती की तरफ हमारा गांव, हमारा किसान बढ़ेगा तो पूरी मानवता को लाभ होगा।

ग्राम पंचायत के स्तर पर कैसे प्राकृतिक खेती को हम प्रोत्साहित कर सकते हैं, इसके लिए भी सामूहिक प्रयासों की आवश्यकता है: PM @narendramodi

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 24, 2022

13:20 PM: When I speak about ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’, our focus is on connectivity and bridging distances. Our aim is to provide all-weather connectivity to J&K, PM Modi while addressing Gram Sabhas across the nation from Jammu.

13:17 PM: A new story of development is being written in Jammu & Kashmir. Many private investors are interested to come to J&K: PM Narendra Modi in Jammu.

Jammu | PM Narendra Modi also launches the 'Amrit Sarovar Mission' & transfers the amount of the National Panchayat Award into the bank accounts of the winning Panchayats, in Samba. pic.twitter.com/O48Xvz8nJL

— ANI (@ANI) April 24, 2022

13:00 PM: This year’s Panchayati Raj Day, being celebrated in J&K marks a big change. It is a matter of great pride that when democracy has reached the grassroot level in J&K, I am interacting with you all from here, said PM Modi in Jammu.

12.25 pm: PM Modi receives a warm welcome at Palli village in Samba district.

#WATCH PM Narendra Modi receives a warm welcome at Palli village in Samba district.

This is the PM's first visit to the region after the abrogation of Articles 370 & 35A in J&K

PM will address all Gram Sabhas across India on National Panchayati Raj Day from here today. pic.twitter.com/AoXNz6uDZ0

— ANI (@ANI) April 24, 2022

12.20 pm: PM Modi arrives at Palli Panchayat in Samba district.

Jammu | Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives at Palli Panchayat in Samba district to participate in the celebration of National Panchayati Raj Day & lay the foundation stone & inaugurate development works worth over Rs 20,000cr.

Lt Gov Manoj Sinha felicitates PM Modi. pic.twitter.com/G8QAHZ9XhR

— ANI (@ANI) April 24, 2022

12.10 pm: PM Modi visits INTACH photo gallery set up at Palli village in Samba district of Jammu.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits INTACH photo gallery set up at Palli village in Samba district of Jammu

Jammu & Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha also present

(Source: DD) pic.twitter.com/dxwIDk5jMp

— ANI (@ANI) April 24, 2022

PM to inaugurate projects worth Rs 20,000 Crore during visit:

1. PM will inaugurate and lay foundation stone of development projects worth over Rs 20,000 crore in Jammu and Kashmir, including the opening of the Banihal-Qazigund road tunnel to establish all-weather connectivity between the two regions of the union territory.
2. Modi will inaugurate the Banihal-Qazigund road tunnel, built at a cost of over Rs 3,100 crore. The 8.45-km-long tunnel will reduce the road distance between Banihal and Qazigund by 16 km, and reduce journey time by around one and a half hours.
3. He will also lay the foundation stone of three road packages of the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, being built at a cost of over Rs. 7,500 crore.
4. Among other projects, Modi will lay the foundation stone of Ratle and Kwar hydroelectric projects, a 850 MW facility to be constructed on Chenab river in Kishtwar at a cost of around Rs 5,300 crore, and 540 MW Kwar hydroelectric project to be build in on the same river at a cost of over Rs 4,500 crore.
5. Modi will also inaugurate a 500 KW solar power plant at Palli, which will make it the country’s first panchayat to become carbon neutral, the PMO said.