SRINAGAR: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday reached out to the youth of Kashmir at the J&K Youth Club after reviewing the security situation in the Valley
Shah attacked Pakistan over keeping neighbouring Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) undeveloped. He said PoK was kept in darkness, poverty and the region lacked basic facilities unlike Jammu and Kashmir which is progressing rapidly, especially after the abrogation of Article 370. “Try comparing J&K to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and you will know they have nothing but darkness, poverty. The households there still use wood and twigs for cooking unlike here where there’s a new wave of development.”
The home minister said the youngsters of Kashmir should leverage the various opportunities being created by the administration for their progress. ALSO READ & WATCH: HM Shah Meets Slain Cop’s Family On First Visit To J&K Since Aug 5 Decision, Offers Wife A Job
“Kashmir is a heaven made by the god and has abundance natural beauty, but Modi ji wants to see peace, prosperity and development here as well. For that, I have come here to seek support from the youth of Kashmir,” he emphasised.
Earlier during the day, he drove straight to meet the family of Parvez Ahmed Dar, a police officer killed by terrorists in June this year.
The home minister is on a 3-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir. This is his first visit since J&K’s special status under Article 370 was revoked on August 5, 2019, followed by bifurcation of the state into the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.
Security was beefed up across Kashmir ahead of Shah’s visit which comes in the wake of 11 civilian killings.
Shah flagged off the inaugural Srinagar-Sharjah flight from the Sheikh Ul-Alam international airport. He flagged off the flight virtually from the Raj bhawan here.
During his meeting with security officials, he asked the security forces to work in synergy to completely flush out terrorism from J&K.