Kashmir’s youth will not suffer like their parents & grandparents: PM
Hindustan TimesPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday reached out to the youth in the Valley, assuring them that they will not suffer like their parents and grandparents, as he laid the foundation of multiple development projects worth over ₹20,000 crore in Jammu and Kashmir. Modi, who celebrated the Panchayat Raj Day at Palli gram panchayat in Samba, said the youth of J&K will get employment opportunities through overall development. Addressing a crowd of over one lakh people, including 30,000 panchayat members of the Union Territory, on National Panchayati Raj Diwas, the PM stressed on “bridging gaps” and said: “When I talk about one India and prosperous India, I also mean improving connectivity, be it of heart or of culture and languages.” As panchayat members from across the country joined the address virtually, the PM said: “It is a symbol of change that this year Panchayati Raj Day is being celebrated in J&K. It is a matter of great pride that I am addressing the PRIs across the country from J&K when democracy has reached the grassroots level here.” Referring to the process of inclusion of J&K in the nation’s development journey, Modi said more than 175 central laws have become applicable in the Union Territory. Stressing that the new projects, including the opening of the Banihal-Qazigund road tunnel to establish all-weather connectivity between the two regions of the Union Territory, will give new impetus to development, Modi said: “ ₹38,000 crore of private investment has been received in J&K in two years as compared to ₹17,000 crores in last seven decades.” The 8.45-km Banihal-Qazigund tunnel will reduce the travel time between Jammu and Srinagar by two hours.