Modi invokes Vajpayee, promises to work with Mehbooba govt

Invoking Atal Bihari Vajpayee's vision of 'Insaniyat, Kashmiriyat and Jamhooriat' as the way out to resolve problems in Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said both the Centre and state government will work closely for taking the state to "new heights" of development.

On his first visit to the state after the new government assumed office on April 4, Modi came out in fulsome praise of Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and hoped that the formation of new government led by "young and energetic leadership will usher in a new era of development across the state."

Noting that people of Jammu and Kashmir had enormous faith in Vajpayee, he said very few leaders commanded such respect.

"He (Vajpayee) used to say 'Insaniyat (humanity), Kashmiriyat and Jamhooriat (democracy)' are key to progress of Jammu and Kashmir'. We have to take the state to new heights through these pillars," he said at the inauguration of Shri Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital here.

"We have filled the colours of sab ka saath, sab ka vikas in his dreams of 'Insaniyat, Kashmiriyat and Jamhooriat'," he said as he recalled that former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed always thought about bridging the gulf between Kashmir and Jammu.

Praising the new Chief Minister of the state, he said, "Mehbooba ji does not talk about weather, but she always talks about the bridge, road and development. When leadership has such much of dedication towards development, then development becomes imminent."

He said the Centre and the state government are working together for the infrastructure development in Jammu and Kashmir. "Government of India with full force will move forward shoulder to shoulder and step by step with state government for changing the destiny of Jammu and Kashmir and fulfil the aspirations of people of the state," the Prime Minister said.

Paying tributes to Sayeed who headed PDP-BJP coalition government for 10 months before his sudden demise on January 7, Modi said, "He (Sayeed) had in his mind to make Jammu and Kashmir a place which would be a role model for the entire country."