Modi says there is a mini India in Jammu and Kashmir

Jammu, April 19: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday reached out to the youth of the troubled Jammu and Kashmir, which he said represented a "mini India", and urged them to "dream to do something and not to become someone" as he dedicated a super specialty hospital to the people of the state.

"The 21st Century belongs to those who have the power of knowledge," Modi said later, addressing the 5th Convocation of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University near Jammu city.

He inaugurated the 250-bedded super specialty state-of-the-art hospital set up by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. The nearly Rs.300 crore hospital is located at Kakryal near Katra -- the town at the base of the famed hill shrine.

The facility has some 20 different streams of medicine and surgery, including cardiology, cardio-thoracic surgery, neurology, neuro surgery, nephrology, according to the shrine board.

It is fully equipped with state-of-the-art computerised diagnostic and treatment equipment, including Linear Accelerator, Brachy Therapy, Gamma Camera and MRI.

Governor N.N. Vohra, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh, union Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh and state Health Minister Bali Bhagat were present when Modi opened the hospital.

Addressing the students of the university later, Modi wished them "all the best, specially to the girls who won laurels here".

"There is a mini-India in Jammu and Kashmir. Dream to do something and not to become someone."

He said that India was reaching new levels in development and "with 800 million youths, India can achieve more heights."

"Let's pledge that we will do something for poor."

Modi's visit to the state comes as parts of the Kashmir Valley have been under siege after deadly clashes between protestors and security forces left at least five people dead.

Tension continues to simmer under the surface of relative calm in several towns and villages in north Kashmir amid a strict curfew and heavy deployment of police and paramilitary forces.

IANS