Dressed in woollens and wearing a Karakul cap, Mukhtar Abas Naqvi made a fiery speech to an estimated 350 audience comprising some civilians, Sarpanchs, and daily-wagers in the Block Development Office, adjacent to the Harwan police station. He virtually laid the foundation stone for a school for Dara, one of the improvised localities of Gujjars, overlooking the Srinagar city, even though it is located barely 6 kms from the venue.
Naqvi talked about employment, education and empowerment but skipped explaining either of the three. He said Kashmir will become part of India’s development story, an initiative Kashmir missed because of corrupt politicians and Article 370. Apart from virtual inauguration of various other projects, the minister talked about Haj pilgrimage and accountability. Later, he got on a boat and sailed in the Dal Lake where, an official spokesman said he talked to boatmen community.
Next morning, he drove to Makka Market, a small flea market in Lal Chowk, where he met a few traders, some were angry and some talked in Roti, Kapda, Makan parlance. Suggesting traders to get their wards fill the mandatory forms, Naqvi said Modi government is giving one million scholarships to the Jammu and Kashmir students in next five years. The five-minute visit witnessed news cameramen outnumbering all others forcing the police escort to cut the visit short. In Jammu he said he saw positivity around in Kashmir.
PROJECT OUTREACH
Naqvi was the first senior BJP minister who piloted the Modi government’s grand outreach plan for Kashmir. Seven other ministers followed him. They all had small good gatherings comprising semi-permanent and auxiliary employees, party activists and some of the beneficiaries of particular schemes.
This story is from the January 26- February 01, 2020; LEFT IN THE LURCH; Issue 43 Vol 11 edition of Kashmir Life.
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This story is from the January 26- February 01, 2020; LEFT IN THE LURCH; Issue 43 Vol 11 edition of Kashmir Life.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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