File pic: Prime Minister Narendra Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted today that he would spend Diwali, on Thursday, in flood-hit Srinagar.
"Will be in Srinagar on Diwali, 23d October & will spend the day with our sisters & brothers affected by the unfortunate floods," PM Modi tweeted. This will be his fourth visit to Jammu and Kashmir since taking charge as prime minister in May.
Close to 300 died and more than 1.5 million people were affected by the floods, the worst the state has seen in 100 years. Mr Modi visited Srinagar once before to survey the large-scale damage.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tweeted that he appreciated PM Modi's gesture. "Let's just appreciate that @narendramodi is in Srinagar on his festival & not at home celebrating as he normally would have been doing (sic)," he tweeted.
The Election Commission has indicated that Jammu and Kashmir is fit to hold elections due by December, though the state's ruling National Conference had recommended deferring the process saying much infrastructure had been destroyed by the flood.
All other parties have reportedly told Election officials that the polls should be held on time.
In the five months since he became Prime Minister, PM Modi, 64, has used most major holidays to connect with the masses.
On Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary on October 2, he launched the "Swachha Bharat" or Clean India campaign close to his heart and picked up a broom for a symbolic clean-up of a road in the heart of Delhi.
On Dussehra, PM Modi addressed the nation on radio. A special soundproof room has been set up at the prime minister's home for him to record what he calls "Man ki Baat (talking from the heart)" for radio and TV - planned for at least two Sundays a month.
On September 5 or Teacher's Day, when schoolchildren usually enjoy a relaxed day with their teachers taking a backseat, Mr Modi addressed students across India in a special telecast for schools, many of which arranged for children to stay back till evening.