India, New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Today said that both the Centre and state government will work together for carrying forward Jammu and Kashmir( J&K) on the path of development.

Modi said addressing a rally here, “Atal Behari Vajpayee used to say that if India has to progress then we will have to take along Jammu and Kashmir on the path of development”. He added, “Keeping in view the concept given by Atal ji, both the Government of India and the state government will work shoulder to shoulder to bring about all round development of Jammu and Kashmir,”.

Significantly, Modi invoked Vajpayee’s vision of Insaaniyat, Kashmiriyat and Jamhooriyat in the wake of the unrest in Kashmir over Handwara killings as also the tension in NIT Srinagar and Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University at Rajouri following clashes between Kashmiri and non-Kashmiri students. “People in a number of states across the country may not be aware that a “mini-India” lives in Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.

Jammu and Kashmir has a lot of potential in tourism, he said, adding that there are many new areas like adventure tourism that require modern infrastructure. The work on rail line and improving road connectivity is going on at full speed, the prime minister said. In an apparent reference to travel time between Jammu and Srinagar, Modi said that when distance reduces, more pilgrims coming to Katra will decide to visit Valley as well. “And when a tourist visits Jammu Kashmir, he not only contributes to the welfare of people of the state, but the country as well,” he added.

He hoped that the formation of new government led by young and energetic leadership will usher in a new era of development across the state, PM Modi said. “Mehbooba ji does not talk about weather, but she always talks about the bridge, road and development. When leadership has such much of dedication towards development then development becomes imminent,” he added.