Will follow Vajpayee's dream for J&K: Modi

Stating that infrastructure was the mother of development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday asserted that former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s dream of restoring peace in conflict-hit Jammu and Kashmir would be realised.

Modi, on a day’s visit to the state, said, “My message to the people of Jammu and Kashmir is that the government wants to carry forward former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s plan in the state. My aim is to win the hearts of the people of the state.

“The state has passed through turbulent times. It is the dream of every Indian to see this state make progress and the youth get employment,” he said at a rally after flagging off the Katra-Udhampur train, which will link the Vaishno Devi shrine near Katra with the rest of the country.

With Assembly elections due in the state later this year, the prime minister said J&K’s development is “our duty”. “We will do it, J&K, whether or not we are in power in the state,” he said.

Modi said the Katra-Udhampur rail link was not only meant for the people of the state but also for those across the country looking to visit the state. 

“Today I’m going to give Jammu and Kashmir speed and strength to its development. The train will enable pilgrims to cover their journey with a single ticket; earlier, they had to use both bus and train,” said Modi amid cheers by the crowd.

On the apprehensions of some in Jammu city that inauguration of the track would harm their business interests, Modi said, “I want to assure the people of Jammu that their interests will be protected. I do not believe anybody will come to Katra and not visit Jammu city.” The 25-km-long railway line, commissioned on Friday after prolonged delay, has been built at an estimated cost of Rs 1,132.75 crore.