Modi to Address First Srinagar Rally as Prime Minister on December 8

 Srinagar, Dec 1, KNT: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced on Monday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would address a public rally at the Sher-i-Kashmir Cricket Stadium in Srinagar on December 8, marking his first rally in Kashmir’s summer capital since assuming office as Prime Minister of India.

BJP leaders said extensive preparations had already begun for the event, which the party projected as a major political gathering ahead of the Assembly elections.

Addressing reporters in Srinagar, BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh said the party expected a large turnout at the rally.

“Our leader Narendra Modi will inform people of Kashmir about the policies of BJP and for this purpose we have made elaborate arrangements to bring BJP supporters to the venue,” Chugh said.

He described the proposed gathering as potentially historic and claimed that close to one lakh people were expected to participate.

The rally assumed political significance as it represented Modi’s first major public outreach event in Srinagar after becoming Prime Minister earlier that year.

BJP leaders indicated that elaborate logistical planning was underway to mobilize supporters from different regions.

A senior BJP leader, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the party was considering hiring transport, including trains, buses, cars, jeeps and motorcycles, to facilitate movement of supporters to the rally venue.

According to the leader, a substantial portion of the gathering was expected to come from Jammu.

“Thorough deliberations are going on and plans have been given final shape that aim at drawing record crowd to Modi’s rally,” the leader said.

BJP’s Kashmir media in-charge Altaf Thakur said preparations at the Sher-i-Kashmir Cricket Stadium and adjoining areas had already commenced.

He said saffron banners, flags and posters would be installed around the venue while a large stage was planned with portraits of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Narendra Modi as the backdrop.

Thakur added that the party had also erected hoardings featuring Modi at various locations across Srinagar.

Meanwhile, security agencies said extensive arrangements would be put in place for the proposed rally.

A police official said a three-tier security system would be deployed and the area would undergo advance sanitization to ensure smooth conduct of the gathering.

“We will make three-tier security arrangements for the rally and strong checks will be put in place. We will start sanitizing the area to ensure smooth conduct of the rally,” the official said.

Separately, Tarun Chugh announced that senior BJP leader and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley would address members of civil society and intellectual circles at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) on December 3.

The meeting, titled “Vision Kashmir,” was described as an interaction with scholars, academicians, journalists, students and civil society members.

Chugh said invitations had already been extended and Jaitley would present the BJP’s perspective during the session.

The announcements came amid intensified political activity in Jammu and Kashmir during the election season. [KNT]

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