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Modi visits Siachen, greets soldiers, ,separatists under house arrest in Srinagar

By FnF Correspondent | PUBLISHED: 23, Oct 2014, 12:40 pm IST | UPDATED: 23, Oct 2014, 12:47 pm IST

Modi visits Siachen, greets soldiers, ,separatists under house arrest in Srinagar Siachen: Prime Minister Narendra Modi  spent time with soldiers in Siachen ahead of his visit to Srinagar, while in the Valley security was tightened  and separatist leaders who gave a call for bandh were put under house arrest.

Modi spent some time with the soldiers on Diwali and conveyed the message there that every Indian stands shoulder-to-shoulder with them.

"Friends, I am leaving for Siachen Glacier. It's my good fortune that I will be able to spend time with our brave soldiers on this special day," Modi tweeted, before embarking on the visit.

"Am going to Siachen with a message from each and every Indian to our soldiers- that we stand shoulder to shoulder with you," he said.

Praising the country's sentinels, Modi said, "Be it the altitude or bitter cold, nothing deters our soldiers.  They stand there, serving our nation. They make us truly proud." After his brief visit to Siachen, Modi will travel to Srinagar to meet the flood victims.

"After the Siachen visit I will continue with my scheduled visit to Srinagar to spend time with those affected due to the recent floods," Modi said on the micro-blogging site.

He further said, "Everyone is aware of the extreme conditions at Siachen. Overcoming every challenge our soldiers stand firm, protecting our motherland.

Separatists put under house arrest

Meanwhile authorities have clamped down on separatists in the valley and placed them under house arrest ahead of prime minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kashmir.

Moderate Hurriyat chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was placed under house detention in the morning fearing that he was planning an anti-Modi rally in downtown Srinagar, while hardline  Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Geelani was placed under house arrest since Wednesday evening. JKLF chief Yasin Malik too was asked not to venture out of his house.

Separatists have called for a shutdown against Modi's visit to Kashmir. While Geelani described it as "cultural aggression", Malik accused him of playing politics over flood tragedy.

Meanwhile, Srinagar wore a deserted look ahead of the prime minister's visit. Shops and business centres remained closed and there was thin traffic on the roads.

Security agencies have sealed a large swathe of areas around the Raj Bhawan in Srinagar where prime minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to arrive around 12.30pm.

The Raj Bhawan has kept out of bound even for the media with restrictions on the movement on the roads leading to Raj Bhawan. Officials are tight lipped on Modi's exact schedule in Srinagar citing it as part of security drill.

Modi is likely to meet governor NN Vohra and chief minister Omar Abdullah at Raj Bhawan on arriving, followed by discussions with a delegation of traders and business leaders, before visiting a flood-affected locality.

According to sources Modi will also visit a relief camp besides visiting places badly hit by the floods in the city.The prime minister is also expected to announce a special package for the victims of the floods in the state.

Politicians from the ruling National Conference (NC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) expect Modi’s trip to be more than a mere gesture. The NC is waiting to see how close the PM’s announcement comes to the proposed Rs. 44,000-crore package.

Omar Abdullah had met Modi in Delhi on September 23 and asked for a Rs. 44,000-crore compensation package from the Centre for the devastation caused by the worst floods to hit the state in a century.
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