Time for misguided youth to shun violence, return home: Modi
Srinagar, May 19: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday appealed to those Kashmiri youth who have joined violence to return to their homes and live a life of dignity and peace.
Addressing an official function at Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar where he inaugurated the 330mw Kishanganga Hydel Project and also laid foundation of Srinagar Ring Road, Modi said: "The PDP-BJP government is trying its best to bring back the misguided youth who have left their homes and families."
"It is time that these youth return to their families. Each stone thrown by a misguided youth hurts the hearts and minds of the people in Jammu and Kashmir.
"Those who have been helping violence in the state from across our borders are themselves disintegrating this time," he said.
"Atalji (Atal Bihari Vajpayee) always advocated and supported 'Kashmiriyat' and Modi is also the disciple of the same 'Kashmiriyat'."
The Prime Minister said the people of state know how they have been deceived by forces inimical to peace. The Central government has appointed a special representative to speak to all elected people to find a way out of these difficult times, he said.
"There is only one solution to all problems and that is development. All those countries in the world who followed violence are finding ways and means to shun it and save their people.
"Time will come soon when J&K will re-emerge as the crown and coronet of peace and progress for the entire country."
Modi said it is the love and affection of the people that brings him here so often.
"The holy month of Ramadan is the time when we re-dedicate ourselves to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad. It's an honour that I am here during the holy month of Ramadan."
The Prime Minister said everybody associated with the Kishanganga project needs to be complimented because it was a difficult task.
Modi said: "The 42km-long Srinagar Ring Road, whose foundation I have laid today (Saturday), will go a long way in providing connectivity that is vital for progress and development.
"Jammu Kashmir of the 21th century is going to be a model of progress and prosperity. It was said in the past that waters and vitality of mountains does not help the people living in these mountains. But this saying is being proved wrong here as the waters and vitality of your mountains is now being used for your betterment and progress."
The Prime Minister said tourism has been a part of J&K's development, but today's tourism has changed fast. "Today's tourist wants a better eco-system and cleanliness, and the more you address these issues, the more number of tourists would be coming here."
Pointing out that connectivity is very essential to improve the eco-system, he said: "Before coming here, I started the work on Asia's longest tunnel. Whether it is the Srinagar Ring Road or any other connectivity project, the completion of these road projects will save you time and increase your earnings."
"Better roads will definitely add to the beauty of the state. I am happy that the people of state are helping themselves. I recently saw a video in which a five-year-old girl, Jannat, is shown cleaning the Dal Lake."
Modi said one lakh local youth are being trained under the "Himayat" programme, adding that around 16,000 youth have been given scholarships to study outside the state. He said the J&K Police would soon complete the recruitment process of 5,000 youth."Security forces have lent a helping hand to mitigate the sufferings of the people during floods and natural calamities."Every sacrifice made by our security forces is remembered and respected by every citizen of the country."
Modi is now scheduled to address the convocation of Sher-i-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST) in Jammu city.
He will also lay the foundation stone for 58.2km-long Jammu Ring Road before flying back to New Delhi.
The 330mw power project has been constructed by the HCC Ltd on an Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) basis for the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation Ltd (NHPCL), said HCC's Group CEO Arjun Dhawan in Mumbai.
The project, construction on which started in January 2009, has several firsts to its credit in Indian infrastructure, besides overcoming major geological and engineering challenges, at a cost of around Rs 5,750 crore, Dhawan said.
While 12 per cent of the power generated from this project will go to Jammu & Kashmir, the rest will go to several other states, he added.
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Pak police registers case against unidentified gunmen for opening fire on LeT co-founder
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Lahore (PTI): Pakistan's Punjab Police on Friday registered a case against unidentified gunmen for opening fire on Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) co-founder Amir Hamza, who suffered bullet injuries in the attack in Lahore.
On Thursday, two unidentified gunmen riding on a bike opened fire on the vehicle of the private TV channel 24NewsHD TV, owned by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, on Peco Road in Lahore near the TV channel's office.
In the attack, Hamza suffered bullet injuries.
"The FIR has been registered against unidentified gunmen, but it is sealed forthwith," a senior police officer told PTI.
He said the intelligence agencies have taken over this case from the police, and they are currently investigating the matter.
The channel's religious programme host Justice (retd.) Nazir Ahmed Ghazi and Hamza were in the vehicle when it was attacked. Hamza was shifted to a hospital for treatment.
Punjab police on Friday said that "upon receiving information about the incident, the SSP Operations immediately reached the scene and a high alert was imposed in the area. SSP Operations Tauqeer Naeem also met the affected individuals. Thankfully, all present in the vehicle remained safe during the firing."
It further said senior police officers of the Township and Chung, along with a heavy police contingent, were present at the scene.
"Police collected evidence from the site and initiated an investigation. Efforts to arrest the suspects are underway using CCTV footage and geo-fencing techniques. Search and sweep operations are being conducted at various locations, with scrutiny of suspicious individuals ongoing," police said.
It added that those involved in the incident will be traced and arrested soon.
The police sources said that Hamza has been shifted to his residence in Jauhar Town, Lahore, where police and agency personnel met him.
The leadership of the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML), a political front of Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed's banned Jamat-ud-Dawah (JuD), including Hafiz Saeed's son Hafiz Talha Saeed, also called on him.
TV host retired Justice Ghazi, who remained unhurt in the attack, remained a legal counsel for Hafiz Saeed, they said.
The PMML has strongly condemned the attack on Hamza and demanded that those involved in the incident be arrested immediately.
Hamza is regarded as LeT's second most important leader after its chief Hafiz Saeed, who has been in Lahore's Kot Lakhpat Jail since 2019 after getting convicted for several years in terror financing cases.
Hamza has been designated as a terrorist by the US. In the past, he served as the head of LeT's "special campaigns" department.
In 2018, Hamza formed a fundraising group for the LeT following a ban on the JuD and Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation by the Pakistani government.
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