PM arrives in Jammu on Friday

Srinagar: Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, is scheduled to arrive in Jammu, the winter capital of the state, tomorrow on his first visit to the state after the summer unrest in the Kashmir Valley last year in which over 100 youths were killed allegedly consequent to state action.In a revised schedule reduced to single day visit, Dr Manmohan Singh, likely to be accompanied by Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Ghulam Nabi Azad and JKPCC, Chief Prof Saif-ud-Din Soz, is expected to reach at around 0930 hours.The Prime Minister would be received at the Technical Airport by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his Cabinet colleagues among others. He would straightway move to Raj Bhawan to meet Governor NN Vohra and a few delegations before attending the convocation of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology (SKUAST) at Zorawar Singh auditorium of Jammu University from 11 am.  Dr Singh is also likely to announce a special package for the promotion of state’s Basmati on the pattern of Saffron mission on the occasion.Soon after attending the convocation, Dr Singh would have a lunch at Raj Bhawan before leave for Technical Airport. He would fly to Nagrota from the Airport and is expected to reach Jagti migrant camp by 1600 hours to inaugurate the newly built residential flats for Kashmiri Pandits there. Couple of days back, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah visited Jagti and inspected various aspects of the completion of the project.  Jagti Township envisages construction of 4218 two room flats for Kashmiri Migrants besides many facilities in the form of hospitals, schools, community halls, parks, etc.The project envisages construction of 176 blocks in 6 zones to house 4218 flats. The Jagti Township is the part of the ambitious housing project under PMRP for Kashmiri Pandits for construction of 5242 two room housing units at a cost of Rs. 385 crores.Under the first phase 1024 flats have been constructed at Purkhoo, Muthi and Nagrota which have already been allotted to the beneficiaries.The Prime Minister had last visited the state on June 7 last year when he addressed the convocation of SKUASK-K at Srinagar.Meanwhile, in wake of PM’s visit, speaker Mohammad Akhbar lone announced that the Legislative Assembly would observe a break tomorrow. The development, reports said, follows request by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and majority of his Cabinet colleagues and legislators who insist that in wake of the PM’s visit, they won’t be able to attend the house since they are to receive and see off the Prime Minister and also attend his functions including the convocation. The Assembly business for March 4 including debate on Motion of Thanks to Governor’s Address and Reply by the Chief Minister has been now deferred to March 5, actually an off-day as per calendar issued by the assembly secretariat.