The Indian government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has embarked on a charm offensive to spread the message of positivity while encouraging the people of Jammu and Kashmir to adopt the path of development that would result in a win-win situation in the new year. Just before India's Republic Day on Jan. 26, 2020, federal ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad, Nityanand Rai, GK Reddy, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Sanjay Dhotre met people at different places reiterating that the Valley should shun all negativity of the past and look forward to a new sunrise under Modi's government that would bring happiness to all residents, according to a report in Economic Times. Continuing its efforts to reach out to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the ministers who recently visited the region, reiterated that the union territory would be developed on the lines of what the government had done in the northeast in the past five years. That the Modi's team, visiting the region, promised a new dawn in the Kashmir outreach was evident by their addressing developmental issues as well as inaugurating many projects in Srinagar, Budgam and Ganderbal districts. The Economic Times reported that both minister of state for home Reddy and minister of state for defense, Shripad Naik pledged a series of projects that would help Kashmir spur efforts to achieve the developed state status. Naik, addressing a gathering at SK International Convention Center on the banks of the Dal Lake, said Narendra Modi government's focus is on the development of Kashmir, like this government did in the northeast in the past five years. In Ganderbal, Reddy sought the people's support in implementing developmental project, while inaugurating eight developmental projects costing around Rs21 crore. Other ministers too interacted with various delegations in Srinagar, Ganderbal and Baramullah districts of central and northern Kashmir. And they promised the Union Territory a path away from conflict and bloodshed of yesteryears to a future of peace and prosperity. The recent allocation of Rs30,000 crore for the development of J & K is an indication that the Modi government means business. The center hopes to wean the Union Territory away from militancy toward business prospects and employment with special emphasis on growing the existing tourism industry. Along with this government's outreach program, New Delhi has begun taking incremental steps to ease the lives of the local population. The Jammu and Kashmir administration has restored broadband and mobile Internet connectivity across the union territory, but with restrictions. It has also allowed 16 envoys, mostly from Latin American and African countries, to visit Kashmir in January. The envoys lauded the ground situation in Jammu and Kashmir after visiting the Union territory as part of a 15-member group of ambassadors based in Delhi. They said people they met appreciated the lack of bloodshed in the Valley in the last five months and also spoke about their expectations from the government and the development of the union territory. People from Jammu and Kashmir have since realized how Art 370 was a barrier to their overall development and those who reaped benefits out of it had definite vested interests for its continuation. People are welcoming the steps taken by central government to extend the financial and relief packages as these are now reaching the real beneficiaries on ground. They also appreciated the opening up of opportunities that would drive Kashmir to progress. The slow easing of restrictions following the Art 370 abrogation, has seen shops and colleges/schools and other establishments open up. Commercial activities are picking up. There are indications of business as usual from the Valley, despite the early onset of the winter in Kashmir. With the elimination of militants who were disrupting the normal life in every sphere, people are slowly going about their normal ways. New openings have dawned upon the region; people from deprived and backward class know that they are now equal partners in the development process. The central government is urgently pursuing the task of restarting the political process. And the visits of envoys and the promises of developmental packages to rebuild Jammu and Kashmir as a developed territory are just few of their ongoing efforts to reach the people and hear their side while developing the territory and the nation side by side. — Agencies
