SRINAGAR: Separatists have called for
a strike to protest Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's two-day visit to Jammu and
Kashmir on Friday.
"We call upon the people to stage peaceful
protests after Friday prayers and observe a complete strike on Saturday to
protest the Prime Minister's visit," said a statement by a separatist
coordination committee that has spearheaded some of the biggest anti-India
protests in two decades.
During his visit, Singh is scheduled to
inaugurate the 450 MW Baglihar Hydro Electric Power Project in Ramban district.
This is the third power project commissioned in the border state on
river Chenab.
The Baglihar Project has been completed at a cost of
Rs 5200 crores and will generate 2800 million units of electricity every year.
Later, he will fly to Srinagar where he will meet leaders of various
political parties including National Conference, Congress, PDP, CPM and Panthers
Party.
On Saturday, Manmohan Singh will flag off the first train
connecting Srinagar to central Kashmir from Nowgam to Budgam.
He
will board the Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) train from Nowgam station as a
symbolic gesture.
The inauguration of this train service was a part
of the plan to connect Baramulla to Qazigund. The commercial use of the train
will take some time to start.