On May 23, 2023, the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, expressed that Jammu and Kashmir has suffered state-sponsored terrorism by Pakistan for thirty years, but the terror ecosystem, which thrived with support from across the border, has been isolated.
Manoj Sinha also asserted that the Union territory is now witnessing a new era that has opened limitless possibilities for peace and growth.
“For almost thirty years, this land of peaceful co-existence of almost all religious sects had to suffer state-sponsored terrorism by our neighbouring country,” he said at the inaugural session of the third tourism working group meeting of the G-20 nations at the SKICC (Sheri Kashmiri International Convention Centre).
The terror ecosystem has been isolated through the various developmental schemes launched by PM Narendra Modi and the efficient administration of the Union Territory.
According to Sinha, PM Narendra Modi has completely eliminated all injustices, exploitation, and discrimination which several sections of society faced for seven long decades owing to circumstances that evolved mostly from orchestration from abroad.
The Union territory stands among the developed regions of India on some measurable milestones, and “we are committed for people’s prosperity both economically and socially,” he said.
He added that even foreign investments are coming to the Union territory, the green shoots of better times that people anxiously look up to.
As per Sinha, the deep dive initiatives demonstrate India’s resolve that Jammu and Kashmir should also benefit from the virtues of democracy like the rest of the other states and Union territories.
Grassroots democracy has been strengthened, new industries are coming up, agricultural growth is making our villages prosperous, infrastructure development is progressing rapidly, and our emphasis on technology is transforming Jammu and Kashmir into a digital society, he said.
Concerning the boom in tourism, he expressed that in 2022, a record of 18 million tourists visited the Union Territory. Tourism contributed to a seven per cent increment in the GDP last year.
The LG has mentioned that more than 300 films have been shot in the Union territory in 2022. After a long pause of four decades, Jammu and Kashmir has revived its relationship with Bollywood and launched a film policy in 2021 to attract more investment into the film sector and make the region a most popular shooting destination.
“I am confident that under the leadership of PM Modi, Jammu and Kashmir will soon find its place in the top 50 destinations of the world and will be on the bucket list of travellers across the globe,” he said.
The Union territory is developing as the country’s largest book village on the banks of the Wular Lake in north Kashmir’s Bandipora District, and many hiking trails for tourists who love the tranquillity of nature are present.
Our aim is to make the countryside and popular destinations more sustainable and preserve the beauty of fascinating heritage sites, he said. Tourism must grow in collaboration and needs good infrastructure, sound policies and effective and responsive administration.
“No less fundamental to me is the fact that only peace and happiness of the people can bring in warmth in the hospitality we Indians eternally enjoy. I would like to mention here that tourism in Jammu and Kashmir is also a reflection of the multi-religious and multi-cultural ethos of India”, he said.
In the end, he said that it is a matter of great pride for the 13 million citizens of the Union Territory to host the G-20 meeting of the tourism working group that is deliberating on global architecture for sustained terrorism.
The world can see that the entire society, especially the young generation, is scripting a bright future for themselves and the nation. He added that the speed and scale of rapid development in Jammu and Kashmir are awe-inspiring.
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