Jammu: Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Jammu on Thursday night for a two-day visit to the Union Territory. He landed at Jammu Technical Airport at around 10:45 pm and proceeded directly to Lok Bhavan.
An official told Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that during the visit, the Home Minister will review border security, chair high-level security meetings, and assess the overall development scenario in Jammu and Kashmir. He is also scheduled to interact with families of martyrs and take part in a compassionate appointment programme at Lok Bhavan.
On Friday, Shah will inspect areas under the jurisdiction of Border Outpost (BOP) Gurnam at 11:10 am, followed by a visit to BOP Bobiya at 11:30 am. At Bobiya, he will e-inaugurate and e-lay the foundation stone of six welfare schemes for border guards aimed at strengthening infrastructure and enhancing welfare measures for personnel deployed along the borders, the official said.
Later in the day, the Union Home Minister will chair a Jammu and Kashmir Security Review Meeting at Lok Bhavan at 2:30 pm to review the prevailing security situation and ongoing efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region. At 3:00 pm, he will interact with families of martyrs and participate in the compassionate appointment programme, reaffirming the government’s commitment to supporting the families of those who have laid down their lives in the service of the nation.
On February 7, Shah will chair a meeting on the development of Jammu and Kashmir at 10:30 am at Lok Bhavan to review progress on key development initiatives and future plans for the Union Territory. He is scheduled to return to New Delhi on Saturday afternoon.
Meanwhile, referring to the Home Minister’s visit, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah told the Legislative Assembly that he would raise the issue of reopening tourist destinations closed after the Pahalgam terror attack. “Several tourist locations in Kashmir have remained shut. The matter will be taken up with the Home Minister,” he said.
Leader of Opposition Sunil Sharma welcomed Shah’s visit, saying the security review would help accelerate development in the Union Territory and boost the morale of security forces.
National Conference chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq described the visit as “a ray of hope” and called for restoration of statehood and firm action against attacks on Kashmiris outside the Union Territory.
PDP MLA Waheed Para said the visit should be utilised to promote development and address youth-related concerns, particularly employment, dignity, and political outreach, to restore confidence among young people.
It may be recalled that during his previous visit to the Union Territory, the Home Minister had similarly combined security consultations with administrative and development reviews, holding meetings with local leadership and senior security officials to assess operational priorities and progress on central projects. (KNO)
