In first visit to Kashmir since abrogation of Article 370, Modi to address Srinagar rally on March 7

In what would mark his first visit to Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to address a public rally in Srinagar on March 7.

The Prime Minister has been on a whirlwind tour of the country ahead of the announcement of Lok Sabha polls, with his speeches focusing on how his government’s schemes have touched the lives of beneficiaries.

In Srinagar, too, he is expected to address beneficiaries of the Centre’s schemes, sources said. “There is a demand for a public rally by the Prime Minister – it is going to be held at Sher-e-Kashmir International Conference Center. The final details are being worked out,” said a source. “He may address beneficiaries from far-flung areas virtually.”

Modi, who visited Jammu last week and inaugurated a series of development initiatives totaling over Rs 32,000 crore, has not visited the Valley during his second term as Prime Minister. The last time he visited was in February 2019, ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, as part of his tour to all three regions of the former state – Kashmir, Jammu and Ladakh.

He had also addressed a public meeting at Sher-e-Kashmir cricket stadium in November 2015.

In April 2022, Modi had virtually addressed elected representatives of local bodies on the occasion of National Panchayat Day from Jammu.

The PM’s visit comes at a time when political parties in the Valley have been raising the pitch to conduct Assembly elections in J&K alongside the Lok Sabha polls.