Modi visits Indian-occupied Kashmir for first time since special status revoked – World

Table of Contents

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said he was working to “win hearts in [occupied] Kashmir”, on his first visit to the disputed region’s main city since its semi-autonomy was cancelled in 2019.

Modi’s government stripped the Muslim-majority territory of its special constitutional status nearly five years ago, splitting the former state into two territories directly ruled from New Delhi.

The move, widely welcomed across India, angered many in the densely militarised territory.

“I am working hard to win your hearts, and my attempt to keep winning your hearts will continue,” the Hindu nationalist leader said at a public rally in Srinagar.

“[Occupied] Jammu and Kashmir is not just a region, it is the crown of the country,” Modi said at the rally in a stadium attended by thousands.

Modi took pride in having cancelled the region’s constitutional special status and inherited protections of land and jobs for its permanent residents.

He said the former rules and “dynastic politics” had limited the region’s potential.

Source Link

Website | + posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Skip to content