Srinagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Thursday, made his first visit to Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370. He expressed his sentiment, saying, "I have come here to win hearts," as he addressed the audience emotionally. "Every time I've visited since 2014, I've aimed to earn your affection, and I can see that I've succeeded. I will continue striving. That's my commitment," he added, emphasizing his desire to not only win hearts but also understand the aspirations and dreams of Kashmiris.

Highlighting the past deprivation due to Article 370, Modi noted how the region missed out on national welfare schemes. He criticized the Congress for misleading the nation on the issue. Without naming specific parties, he criticized political families for holding Kashmir back, mentioning reforms in the Jammu and Kashmir Bank.

Modi emphasized the importance of Kashmir to India, calling it the country's priority for development. He inaugurated various projects aimed at fostering development in the region. Encouraging tourism, he urged people to host weddings in Kashmir and cited the successful organization of G20 there.

During his visit, Modi distributed appointment letters to new government employees and interacted with beneficiaries of central schemes. He also unveiled development projects worth over Rs 6,400 crore.

Security measures were taken during his visit, with several schools along his route closed, and board examinations postponed for safety reasons.

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