Authorities detain separatists to stop their "million march" on Modi's visit to Indian-controlled Kashmir

The authorities in Indian-controlled Kashmir have detained separatist leaders and their activists in a bid to foil their scheduled "million march" program on Saturday.

The program coincides with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir.

The call for "million march" has been given by region's senior most separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani and supported by other separatist groups to counter Modi's proposed rally.

"We have decided to organize a grand public march, Million March, at tourist reception ground here on the day of planned public rally of the prime minister of India," a statement issued by Geelani said.

"More than a million people will participate and it will be a clear referendum that the people of Kashmir are with the freedom movement or they have changed with the time."

Reports said several separatist activists were taken into custody during the police raids on their houses.

Geelani's move has won him supporters on social media. With hundreds of netizens advocating his march, the region's cyber police blocked over 200 Facebook pages in the past three days.

The region's Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on Sunday said Modi's upcoming visit will be a "turning point" in the history of Jammu and Kashmir (Indian-controlled Kashmir) and the people of the state have great expectations from it.

"People have great expectations from the visit of the prime minister who is a visionary and has his eyes fixed on overall development of Jammu and Kashmir," Sayeed said. "I see this as a turning point in the history of the state."

The government's view was slammed by Omar Abdullah, head of region's main pro-India opposition party National Conference.

Abdullah wrote on twitter "Hundreds of youth are being arrested ahead of the PM's scheduled visit to the Valley while the Hurriyat (freedom) leadership is being given one moral lecture after another to be more welcoming and receptive of the prime minister. There couldn't be a more tragic end to the 'battle of ideas' hoax,"

Modi, during his visit to the restive region, is scheduled to inaugurate phase second of a hydro-electric power project at Baghlihar in Jammu province and subsequently address a rally in Srinagar.

This will be Modi's first visit to Srinagar after his party allied with the region's pro-India Peoples Democratic Party to form government in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

The local government is expecting an announcement of a mega financial package from Modi.

A local newspaper Greater Kashmir quoting sources in government reported the Prime Minister would announce a massive development package during his Srinagar rally.

According to the newspaper, the financial package besides aimed at carrying out developmental works will include assistance for rehabilitation of 2014-flood victims.

September 2014 floods in Indian-controlled Kashmir were described as "worst in a century" by the local government and as per its estimates the region suffered a loss of 16 billion US dollars.

The floods, as per officials, killed 300 people.

According to a non-governmental organisation, 300,000 houses were damaged in floods, besides 100,000 shops and business establishments.

Locals say New Delhi has failed to provide relief for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the flood affected people.

Meanwhile, a massive security measures have been put in place ahead of the high-profile visit and rally.

The police have intensified frisking and vigil on the roads to prevent any "untoward" incident around the visit.

Geelani has strongly condemned the crackdown on separatist activists and said the government has no moral, constitutional and legal justifications to stop his scheduled "million march". Endit