'India Incomplete Without Kashmiriyat,' says PM Modi in Srinagar: 10 Developments

"It's my heart-felt desire that this money should be used for converting the state into a new Jammu and Kashmir which is modern, prosperous and progressive state," he said addressing a rally at the Sher-i-Kashmir cricket stadium in Srinagar.

Soon after the announcement, Mr Abdullah tweeted, "PM Modi has made the same mistake of weighing the Kashmir issue in rupees and paise."

During his speech at the stadium, PM Modi recalled the words of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and said, "Kashmiriyat ke bina Hindustan adhura hai (Without Kashmiriyat, India is incomplete)." "Sufi tradition has emerged from this land and this tradition has taught us oneness and strength of unity," he added.

The PM promised to create jobs for Kashmiri youth by improving education and promoting industries including tourism.

He also shared that he wanted Kashmir to become a top tourist destination again. "In the past, when people had some money, they wanted to visit Kashmir. We want that time to come back again," he said.

Hoping that international cricket would soon be played in the state again, he said "Cricketers like Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar hit sixes with bats that are made in Kashmir."

This was the PM's first visit to the state after the PDP-BJP coalition came to power. After the rally, he inaugurated the second phase of the Baglihar hydel project. Later in the day, he is also scheduled to lay the foundation stone for the four-laning of the Udhampur-Ramban and Ramban-Banihal section of the Srinagar-Jammu national highway.

Some separatist leaders had threatened to disrupt the PM's rally today. In the wake of that threat, mobile Internet services were blocked in Srinagar this morning from 10 am till 2 pm. Yesterday, several separatist leaders were taken into preventive detention while some others were placed under house arrest. Over 300 separatist supporters were also been arrested. The government also launched a massive online crackdown to prevent rumours and blocked over 50 Facebook and Twitter pages.

An hour ahead of the PM's arrival in Srinagar today, Jammu and Kashmir lawmaker  Engineer Rashid was detained for holding a black balloon protest near the venue of the rally.

Last month, the Independent MLA was thrashed by a group of his BJP colleagues in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly for hosting a beef party, which was in protest against beef ban in the state.  Days later in Delhi, he was also attacked with ink.