J&K awaits Bihar-type bonanza from Modi

Prime Minister Modi is likely to announce a large economic package of around Rs 90,000 crore for the State during his visit on November 7. The popular graph of PDP and BJP parties has collectively and individually taken a serious beating

Jammu/Srinagar : Prime Minister Narendra Modi's forthcoming visit to Jammu and Kashmir has rekindled hopes for a much awaited economic package being announced this time.

Modi is arriving on a day-long visit to the state on November 7 and will have a busy schedule. He will address the first-ever Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rally in Srinagar. This is also Modi's first visit to the Kashmir Valley since the present PDP-BJP alliance took office here on March 1.

He will inaugurate the 450-MW second phase of the Baglihar power project in Ramban district of Jammu region. He will also inaugurate the four-laning project of Udhampur-Bannihal stretch of the Jammu-Srinagar national highway. Modi is also expected to announce a large economic package of around Rs.90,000 crores for the state.

A clear indication that this time the announcement would be made by the prime minister came on Thursday from Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed who told a public meeting that Modi's visit will bring in good news for everybody and help development, relief and rehabilitation. For the flood victims, business community and the common man, the visit is being seen as something akin to children waiting for Santa Claus to bring them gifts on Christmas eve.

Rakesh Gupta, president of Jammu chamber of commerce and industry, believes Modi would announce an all-inclusive package during his visit. On the other hand, Gupta's counterpart in the Valley, Mushtaq Ahmad Wani, says it is a now or never situation for the people in Kashmir. "The prime minister's visit has rekindled hope among all of us. It is an overdue announcement which he must make...during this visit. People have already seen the first anniversary of the unprecedented floods those hit us in September last year.

The likely announcement of an economic package would definitely bring cheer for the common man, but for the ruling PDP-BJP coalition it has become a question of political survival. The popular graph of the two parties has collectively and individually taken a serious beating.

These two parties have lost political ground so fast that the opposition National Conference (NC) and the Congress are patting each other's back. "While the BJP is blamed in the Jammu region for compromising on its right wing Hindutva agenda, the PDP is blamed in the Muslim majority Valley for bringing the RSS to Kashmir," said Bashir Manzar, editor of a daily English newspaper here.

By Sheikh Qayoom