Srinagar, Feb 27: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to visit the Kashmir Valley in March to address a public rally in the Anantnag district of south Kashmir, as disclosed by reliable sources within the BJP’s Kashmir Unit. The visit is earmarked between March 7 -15 and is expected to set the stage for BJP’s electoral campaign in Jammu & Kashmir for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Preparations are already underway to ensure a seamless and successful visit, including arrangements for the public rally and a possible inauguration ceremony for the much-awaited All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Awantipora. The significance of this visit cannot be overstated, as it marks Prime Minister Modi’s first visit to the Valley since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, a landmark decision that redefined the region’s political landscape.
“We have directed to make party preparations for that and a final date for this will be issued in the next few days,” he said adding that PM Modi will likely inaugurate All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Awantipora.
The BJP is strategically focusing on the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat, encompassing areas from both south Kashmir and Jammu region. The public rally is expected to draw people from all corners of Kashmir, with meticulous preparations underway to ensure its grand success.
Adding to the significance of the visit, Prime Minister Modi is expected to convene a crucial meeting with party leadership at the prestigious Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), highlighting the BJP’s commitment to fostering a robust political presence in the region.
BJP’s party source also said PM Modi will also board a train from Awantipora towards Baramulla. Till now there is no concrete agenda but things will be shared with the media in coming days.
He said that this rally will send a good message throughout the country and will be the beginning of election campaigning for BJP in J&K for 2024. Preparations have started and people from each corner of Kashmir are expected to attend the mega event.
“The party leadership will hold a meeting in coming days in which district presidents will be directed to gear up for the mega event and make it a big success. Many workers from Pirpanjal and Chenab valley are also expected to attend it,” the BJP member said, adding that PM Modi is also scheduled to hold a meeting at SKICC with party leadership.
The BJP is focussing on the Anantnag-Rajouri Lok Sabha seat which comprises the south Kashmir areas of Shopian, Kulgam and Anantnag, and Rajouri-Poonch areas in Jammu.
The visit marks the Prime Minister’s first appearance in the Kashmir Valley since the annulment of Article 370 and the division of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union territories in August 2019.
It will be the second visit of Prime Minister Modi to Jammu and Kashmir since February 20, when he addressed a large public rally in Jammu and inaugurated projects worth Rs 32,000 Crore.
Meanwhile Executive Director AIIMS Kashmir, Dr Sachidananda Mohanty told Rising Kashmir that construction work is underway at full pace at the hospital and exact details about how much work has been completed are not available this time.
In January, in a written reply to a question, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar said 44 percent of civil construction work of AIIMS Awantipora has been completed.
The AIIMS Kashmir is being constructed on 221 acres of land at a cost is Rs 1828 crore. Nagarjuna Construction Company Ltd (NCC) is constructing this prestigious health infrastructure in the valley.
It was approved by the Central government in 2019 at an estimated cost of Rs 1828 crore. The institute will add 1000 beds to its current capacity in Kashmir, including 300 super-specialty beds. The ambitious project also includes a medical college with a capacity of 100 students and a nursing college with a capacity of 60 students
