Crowds throng Srinagar's Bakshi Stadium ahead of PM Modi's rally

Srinagar: Wearing Modi masks and chanting his name, scores of people from across Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday reached Srinagar's Bakshi Stadium here to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally.

In his first visit to Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370, Modi will unveil multiple development projects worth more than Rs 6,400 crore, address a public meeting, and participate in the 'Viksit Bharat, Viksit Jammu Kashmir' programme at the stadium.

Hundreds of BJP supporters, wearing tricoloured turbans, also reached the venue while security personnel had a tough time managing the crowd.

Officials said tight security arrangements were in place but there were no restrictions on the movement of people.

Life was normal across the Kashmir valley and most of the shops and other business establishments were open here, the officials said.

They said there were no restrictions on the movement of the people in any part of the valley, except for traffic diversions around the venue of the PM's rally.

"People are being allowed to move and there are no restrictions anywhere in Kashmir. The Traffic Police has announced some diversions for traffic around the venue, but other than that, there are no restrictions on the movement of the people," they added.

Traffic movement on the city's Jehangir Chowk to Rambagh and Rajbagh to LD Hospital-Tulsi Bagh route has been restricted from 4 am to 7 pm given the VVIP visit, the officials said.

They said the Jahangir Chowk-Solina-Ram Bagh stretch also remains restricted for the civilian traffic movement.

Similarly, Raj Bagh-LD Hospital-Tulsi Bagh besides Gupkar Road up to the All India Radio Srinagar office is also restricted for civilian traffic movement.

However, the officials said all medical emergencies would be facilitated with access through the shortest possible route.

The prime minister landed at the Srinagar International Airport at around 12 noon.

The security apparatus has secured the road from Badamibagh Cantonment to Bakshi Stadium. Tricolours, BJP flags and hoardings welcoming Modi have been put up along the route that will be taken by Modi.

Stringent security arrangements have been put in place to ensure an incident-free visit, they said.

Security personnel have been deployed in large numbers along the routes to be taken by Modi in Srinagar while barricades have been set up at several places, they said.

Drones and CCTV cameras are being used for surveillance while foot patrolling by the security forces has been intensified in a two-kilometre radius around the venue, officials said.

Marine commandos have been deployed in Jhelum River and Dal Lake to prevent the use of the water bodies for any subversive activities, the officials said.

Several schools in Srinagar were closed for two days, while board examinations scheduled to be held on Thursday have been postponed till next month.

However, the officials said parents and guardians of the students appearing for the CBSE exams are urged to accompany their wards. In case they can't do so, they should ensure that their wards carry roll number slips and identity cards with them.

The prime minister will inaugurate initiatives worth nearly Rs 5,000 crore for boosting the agri-economy in the Union Territory.

Modi will launch nationwide projects related to the tourism sector worth more than Rs 1,400 crore under the 'Swadesh Darshan' and 'PRASHAD' (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive) schemes, including a project for the integrated development of the Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar.

He will launch the 'Dekho Apna Desh People's Choice Tourist Destination Poll' and the 'Chalo India Global Diaspora' campaign as well, besides announcing tourist destinations selected under the Challenge-Based Destination Development (CBDD) scheme.

Modi will distribute appointment letters to nearly 1,000 newly recruited government employees in Jammu and Kashmir and also interact with the beneficiaries of various central schemes, including women achievers, farmers and entrepreneurs, an official statement said.

In a step that will provide a major boost to the agri-economy of the region, Modi will launch the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme, it said.

It would cover the full spectrum of activities in three major domains -- horticulture, agriculture and livestock husbandry -- according to the statement.

With the Lok Sabha elections around the corner and opposition parties seeking an announcement on assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir, the prime minister's scheduled visit has acquired a keen political dimension in terms of what he might have to say on the issue.

The prime minister will also launch 43 projects that will develop a wide range of pilgrimage and tourist sites across the country.

He will also launch the first-ever countrywide initiative to identify the pulse of the nation on tourism in the form of 'Dekho Apna Desh People's Choice 2024'.