New delhi sources stated that prime minister narendra modi has asked ministers to spread the message of development in kashmir - SRINAGAR/JAMMU' target='_blank' title='jammu and kashmir-Latest Updates, Photos, Videos are a click away, CLICK NOW'>jammu and kashmir, with a focus on rural areas, ahead of a mega outreach programme which started yesterday. Meanwhile thirty-six ministers will be visiting several areas of the union territory over the next seven days five months after the government ended special status to the state granted under article 370, and bifurcated it into two union territories.
Furthermore PM modi, at a meeting on friday, reportedly asked the ministers to inform locals about the various central schemes to benefit people at the grassroots level. He also said that the ministers should not restrict themselves to urban areas, asking them to visit villages and interact with locals. Apparently those tasked with the outreach include ministers smriti irani, piyush goyal, Jitender Singh, ravi shankar Prasad, kiren rijiju, Hardeep puri, G Kishen reddy, Purshottam Singh Rupala, mahendra nath pandey, General VK Singh, Gajender Singh Shekhawat and Anurag Thakur.
Moreover a list accessed by NDTV shows that there are 51 trips planned for Jammu, and only eight for Srinagar. Perhaps the ministers' visit comes amid continued opposition attacks and international scrutiny over the detention of political leaders in kashmir - SRINAGAR/JAMMU' target='_blank' title='jammu and kashmir-Latest Updates, Photos, Videos are a click away, CLICK NOW'>jammu and kashmir and internet blackout that is being removed in phases and the congress, which has accused the government of "double standards" by allowing foreign envoys to visit kashmir - SRINAGAR/JAMMU' target='_blank' title='jammu and kashmir-Latest Updates, Photos, Videos are a click away, CLICK NOW'>jammu and kashmir while blocking opposition leaders, dubbed the ministers' visit a "propaganda mission". Moreover a senior bjp leader had earlier told NDTV, "When we do not meet people, there is criticism that we are isolating Jammu and Kashmir. And when we do, then also eyebrows are raised".
