Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit India-held Kashmir -- for the first time since the territory's semi-autonomy was removed in 2019. He will be holding a rally there shortly.
The region with a majority of Muslims lost its unique constitutional status during Modi's government in 2019, and it was divided into two regions that are now directly governed by New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Additionally, the indigenous residents' employment and inherited land safeguards were taken away.
Many in the heavily militarized region were incensed by the decision, which was wildly praised throughout India. Since 1989, locals in the Himalayan area have fought for independence from India's occupation.
The major city of Srinagar in India-held Kashmir saw the deployment of thousands of armed police and paramilitary soldiers wearing flak jackets on Thursday. New checkpoints were also put up across the city. Modi is expected to speak at a public gathering there at around 2pm local time.
Guarding every route leading to the football stadium where Modi would speak, the military set up checkpoints and installed razor wire, while navy commandos in motorboats patrolled the Jhelum River, which flows through the city.
"Various development works will also be dedicated to the nation,” Modi said in a statement on social media platform X ahead of the visit, including programs “boosting the agro-economy” as well as tourism.
According to a government statement, Modi will also inaugurate infrastructure around the revered Muslim shrine of Hazratbal.
The gathering on Thursday is perceived as a part of Modi's campaign in advance of the first national election since the region lost its autonomy, which is set for April and May. The region's legislative assembly was last up for election in 2014.
The Modi administration claims that direct authority by New Delhi over IHK brought in a new period of "peace and development", but many locals and opponents argue that it also marked an enormous decrease in press freedom and civil liberties.
The majority of the city's schools are closed for the day, and the authorities have called on government workers to join the demonstration.
The administration is arranging buses to transport people to the gathering, according to Omar Abdullah, a former chief minister of IHK, who claimed that "almost none" of them will be there voluntarily.
Another former chief minister of the region, Mehbooba Mufti, posted on social media platform X that “government employees are being herded at five am in sub-zero temperatures into vehicles … ferrying them to the PM’s rally”.
