J&K gets its first electric train, PM says UT progressing on development track

The Prime Minister, who laid foundation stones and inaugurated multiple projects worth over Rs 32,000 crore including the Banihal-Khari-Sumber-Sangaldan 48-km rail line, bringing Kashmir closer to the Indian Railways network, and the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra expressway, said J&K was moving forward with the pledge of becoming “viksit” (developed), leaving behind its days of despair and separatism. These projects, he said, will boost education, skills, jobs, health, industry and connectivity.

#WATCH | Jammu: Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, “Jammu and Kashmir had to bear the brunt of dynastic politics for decades. They are only concerned about their families, not about your interests, your families…I am happy that Jammu and Kashmir is getting freedom from this… pic.twitter.com/vh3hVAViaP

— ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2024

Without naming any party, he took a swipe at the National Conference and PDP, saying Jammu and Kashmir had been “a victim of dynastic politics for many generations” where “the welfare of the people was completely neglected and the youth incurred huge losses”.

“Such dynastic governments barely prioritise making policies for the youth because those thinking about the welfare of their own families will never spare a thought for the common citizens,” he said, adding that dynastic politics in the Union Territory is now coming to an end.

Muzaffar Hussain Baig, former Deputy Chief Minister of the erstwhile J&K State and one of the founding members of the PDP, was among those present at the rally. Baig said he had come to listen to the Prime Minister.

#WATCH | Jammu: Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, “The previous governments never respected our soldiers. Congress government kept lying to our soldiers for the past 40 years that they will implement one rank, one pension. It is the BJP government which fulfilled this… pic.twitter.com/Hx5VrOQPcq

— ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2024

Referring to the government’s focus on the poor, farmers, youth and Nari Shakti (women empowerment) for a “viksit” J&K, Modi said it is fast becoming a major hub of education and skill development. He recalled having given a guarantee in 2013 at the same venue about creating an IIT and IIM in Jammu and Kashmir. “That guarantee is being fulfilled today,’’ he said, adding that is why people say “Modi’s guarantee means fulfilment of that guarantee”.

While the IIT Jammu was established on August 6, 2016, the Prime Minister inaugurated the IIM Jammu Tuesday.

Listing the educational infrastructure projects, he said advancement of education and skill development sectors on such a scale was a distant reality 10 years ago. “But this is a new India,” he said, highlighting the government expenditure on modern education for the present and future generations.

He said nobody will be left behind and those who felt neglected for decades can now feel the presence of an effective government. He said a new wave has emerged in the country that shuns the “politics of dynasty and appeasement”.

“The youth of Jammu and Kashmir are blowing the bigul (trumpet) of development and moving forward to create their future,” Modi said, mentioning “a positive change in atmosphere” in the Union Territory.

The “mantra of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas is the foundation of the development of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.

He spoke about the expansion work at Jammu airport, and connecting Kashmir to Kanyakumari by rail. “The day is not far when people will be able to travel across the country by taking a train from Kashmir,” he said.

“We have to make India the third largest economic power in the world in the next 5 years. This will increase the country’s ability to spend on the welfare of the poor and infrastructure. Every family of Jammu and Kashmir will benefit from this,” he said.