India's Modi visits Kashmir, first time since special status cut

India PM says "dynastic politics" limited the region's potential

INDIA:

A rally was held by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the main city of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) on Thursday during his first visit to the disputed region since Kashmir's semi-autonomous status was cancelled in 2019.

The visit comes ahead of India's national elections due in May, the first since the region lost its autonomy. The last local elections in Kashmir were held in 2014.

During the visit, Modi said the region's former rules and "dynastic politics" had limited IIOJK's potential.

"Today, from Kashmir I extend my greetings for the coming Ramazan to the entire country," Modi said, ahead of the Muslim holy month of fasting, expected to begin in the coming days.

"Jammu and Kashmir is not just a region, it is the crown of the country," said the Indian premier.

"Various development works will also be dedicated to the nation," Modi said in a statement on social media platform X ahead of the visit, including programmes "boosting the agro-economy" as well as tourism.

A government statement said Modi will also inaugurate infrastructure development around the revered Muslim shrine of Hazratbal.

Freedom fighters in the Himalayan region have waged an insurgency since 1989, seeking independence or a merger with Pakistan -- which controls a smaller part the Kashmir region and, like India, claims it in full.

Thousands of armed police and paramilitary forces were deployed, and new checkpoints were set up across Kashmir's main city Srinagar, where the Hindu nationalist leader was scheduled to address a public gathering around midday.

Modi's government claims New Delhi's direct rule of Kashmir brought about a new era of "peace and development" in the region, but critics and many residents say it heralded a drastic curtailment of civil liberties and press freedom.

Security forces on Thursday patrolled the streets, as well as in motorboats along the river that runs through Srinagar.

Most schools in the city are shut for the day, and the authorities have called on government employees to attend the rally.

Omar Abdulla, a former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, accused the government of organising buses to bring in crowds to attend the rally, alleging that "almost none" would be attending willingly.