Prime Minister Narendra Modi has indicated that assembly elections and the restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir may be on the horizon. Speaking at an event in Srinagar on Thursday, PM Modi declared that “time is not far” when the people of J&K will elect a new government, hinting at the imminent return of full statehood to the union territory.

Participating in the ‘Empowering Youth, Transforming J&K’ event at Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar here, the Prime Minister said the government has taken the recent terror attacks very seriously and will not hesitate to teach a lesson to the enemies of Jammu and Kashmir.

The Prime Minister’s remarks come nearly five years after the central government’s decision to revoke Article 370 and bifurcate the former state into two union territories in August 2019.

During his address, PM Modi highlighted the progress made in the region, citing the inauguration of 84 major developmental projects valued at over Rs 1,500 crore. He also emphasized the construction of new national highways and the world’s highest bridge over the Chenab river as symbols of advancement.

This is PM Modi’s first visit to Jammu and Kashmir after taking oath as Prime Minister for a third straight term. On June 21, Prime Minister Modi will lead the International Yoga Day celebrations at SKICC, Srinagar.

Since 2015, the Prime Minister has led the International Day of Yoga (IDY) celebrations at various iconic locations, including Kartavya Path in Delhi, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Ranchi, Lucknow, Mysuru and even the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

This year’s theme, “Yoga for Self and Society,” highlights the dual role of yoga in fostering individual and societal well-being. The event will encourage grassroots participation and the spread of yoga in rural areas.

(Inputs from ANI)