By Mudassir Kuloo
Srinagar, May 19: Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, on Saturday appealed the “misguided Kashmiri youth” to return to mainstream.
“There is no substitute to peace and stability. I urge the youth who have lost their way to return to the mainstream. The mainstream is their parents and family. The mainstream is their contribution to the development of Jammu and Kashmir,” Modi said in his speech at the SK International Convention Centre (SKICC) here.
On a daylong visit to the state, the Prime Minister, who inaugurated the Rs 600 crore, 330 MW KishengangaHydel Project and laid the foundation for Rs 200 crore Srinagar Semi Ring Road project, began his 26-minutes speech with the greetings in Kashmiri.
He said the PDP-BJP government in the state and the NDA in New Delhi were making efforts to bring the “misguided youth” to the mainstream.
“It is time that these youth return to their families. Each stone thrown by a misguided youth hurts the hearts and minds of the people in Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
Without naming anyone, he said those inciting “violence in the state from across our borders are themselves disintegrating this time”.
“We have to respond to the vested interests that incite the Kashmiri youth towards violence. We have to move ahead. The responsibility of taking forward the development process and increasing the pride and honour of Jammu and Kashmir lies with this young generation,” he said.
“The state has so many resources that there is no question of it staying behind any one.”
Reiterating his last year’s August-15 speech made at the Red Fort, he said that the Kashmir problem cannot be resolved through bullets or abuses.
“The only solution is hugging and loving the Kashmiris,” he said, receiving applause from the Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, Union Ministers, Nitin Gadkari, RK Singh, and Jitendra Singh, who were present among the legislators and ministers from the state.
“Atalji (Atal Bihari Vajpayee) was fond of Kashmiriyat, so is Modi. He always advocated and supported ‘Kashmiriyat’ and Modi is also a supporter of the same Kashmiriyat.”
The people of state, he said, know how they have been deceived by “forces inimical to peace”.
“The Central government has appointed a special representative to speak to all people to find a way out of these difficult times. Government is serious to address all issues,” he made a reference to Dineshwar Sharma, New Delhi’s latest interlocutor appointed for Kashmir.
Appealing people to work for the progress of Jammu and Kashmir, he said: “We all stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our brothers and sisters in Jammu and Kashmir. They have suffered a lot. No power can separate brothers.”
Modi said ceasefire was a “slam” to those who incite the youth.
“Cases have been withdrawn so that these misguided youth live a dignified life, and ceasefire is to provide relief to the people,” he said.
It was Modi’s first visit to the state since his government announced a unilateral for the holy month of Ramdhan.
Stating that JK youth could become a shining star of New Delhi, he said that the Kashmiri youth were excelling in every field.
“They are becoming role models for the youth in other parts of the country. About 125 crore people of the country are part of the New India project, and Jammu and Kashmir can become the shining star of this New India,” he said.
The Prime Minister said was the “love and affection of the people” that brings him to Kashmir so often.
“This is a pleasant coincidence that we came together in the holy month of Ramdhan,” he said.
“Today, I feel blessed to dedicate the Kishanganga Hydropower project to the nation. After the floods in Jammu and Kashmir, I celebrated Diwali with the victims here. Besides, I even got an opportunity to celebrate the festival of lights with the soldiers,” he said.
About the state’s tourism sector, he said New Delhi was working for the environment required for its development.
“There will be a growth in tourism in J&K, and the youth will get new employment opportunities,” he said, ending his speech with a prayer in Kashmiri: “KhudaThaewnouKhushTeKhushal (May God keeps you happy and prosperous)”.
