India's Modi meets troops in Diwali day Kashmir visit
As India celebrated the festival of Diwali, Modi travelled to the remote glacier to greet soldiers based at what has been dubbed the world's highest battleground ahead of a visit to the state capital which was devastated by floods last month.
In a post on his Twitter feed Modi, said it was "my good fortune that I will be able to spend time with our brave soldiers on this special day".
Friends, I am leaving for Siachen Glacier. Its my good fortune that I will be able to spend time with our brave soldiers on this special day
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 23, 2014
"Am going to Siachen with a message from each and every Indian to our soldiers -- that we stand shoulder to shoulder with you!" he added.
Am going to Siachen with a message from each and every Indian to our soldiers- that we stand shoulder to shoulder with you!
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 23, 2014
Television footage later showed Modi meeting and greeting troops in Siachen which has previously been the scene of fierce fighting between India and Pakistan.
Both countries administer parts of Kashmir but claim sovereignty over the whole of the picturesque Himalayan region which has been a running sore between the two sides ever since independence.
The loss of several lives have been reported in the cross-border skirmishes in Kashmir earlier this month, with both sides blaming the other for provoking the firing.
After his trip to Siachen, Modi will head to the main city of Srinagar which last month bore the brunt of the region's worst flooding in some six decades.
More than 450 people were killed in India and Pakistan when the floods swept through Kashmir and Pakistan's neighbouring Punjab province.
The provincial government in Indian-administered Kashmir has been heavily criticised for its response to the flooding and shopkeepers were observing a strike on Thursday to mark Modi's visit.
Provincial polls are scheduled to take place before the end of the year and Modi's visit has been dismissed by opponents as an election stunt.
Many however observers say that the elections are likely to be postponed as a result of the floods.
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@Hobi Haripur wala.:
Even the devil quotes the scriptures when it suits him, and you are quoting Indian media? Care to quote the positive news about him?
If there is a shutdown in the valley, it is not because of Modi, it is because of the fear of being shot dead for disobeying the orders of separatists. C'mon, everyone knows the ground situation. The separatists themselves say that if they don't toe the Pakistan line, they will be killed. It is what has happened to so many separatist "leaders" in the Valley. Why do you think the world does not support Pakistan on this issue - everyone has seen through your lies and blackmailing attempts. And now you want to blackmail the world by rattling your nuclear weapons. You have no friend left in the world - and you threaten to shoot yourself if no one listens to you! A basket case of a country, living on the alms of donor countries, who is gaining momentum in your journey down the drain.
Good luck - also, good riddance...
Just one appreciable thing - Modi has decided to provide flood relief directly to the people's bank accounts undercutting state bureaucracy - that is freaking awesome.
Indian Occupied Kashmir is shut down. Whole valley, the area, the State is under siege. Lockdown. Because Modi is visiting. Schools colleges markets shops all closed. Because the Kashmiris hate Modi. Make no mistake about it. They hate Modi there. The same Modi the Indian Press calls 'Butcher of Gujrat'.
Modi’s visit has been dismissed by opponents as an election stunt. There is a history, Modi spent Diwali with Gujrat earth quake victims in 2001.
There is no closure of shops on the visit of Modi . Federal govt. has already given relief package of INR 15.2 billion for flood affected Kashmir. There is possibility of declaring further relief package of reconstruction of houses , utilities and economic development and Modi is welcomed in Kashmir . Yes, the separatist Hurriyat guys have declared a band ( closure of shops etc) to protest Modi's visit but with no effect.