Jammu, Jan 15: Stating that there has been 350 per cent surge in the foreign tourist arrivals post G-20 meeting in Srinagar while as 55,000 foreign tourists visited the Union Territory last year, the J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Monday said the sounds of development have replaced the thuds of bullets in Kashmir. He also said that a plan has been rolled out to dismantle terrorism and its eco-system in J&K.
Addressing the “Baat Bharat Ki Conclave-2024 Panchjanya in New Delhi, the LG said that not the celebrations in big cities of India or Goa, the new celebrations at Lal Chowk December 31 last year went viral on social media. “At present, nightlife is considered part of the developed cities. Night life has returned to Kashmir after a long wait. This signifies that the atmosphere is peaceful in the region,” he said.
The LG said that despite cold conditions in Kashmir, not just the locals but tourists also enjoy night life in Srinagar and elsewhere in the Valley. “Sounds of development have replaced the frightening thuds of bullets in the Valley,” he said.
LG Sinha said that last year 2.12 crore tourists visited J&K, which is a record. “Post G-20 meeting in Srinagar last year, the foreign tourist arrivals showed a 350 per cent increase. Last year, 55000 foreign tourists visited J&K,” he said.
The LG said that despite the fact that the terrorism was on its deathbed in J&K, the adversary continues with its efforts to fuel terrorism. “But the plan has been rolled out to not just root out terrorism but to dismantle its entire ecosystem,” he said, adding that the GoI is establishing peace in J&K instead of buying it.
The LG said that soon after taking the control of J&K, he abolished the annual Darbar Move exercise which was sucking the State exchequer. “I was surprised to see that files are being transferred from Srinagar to Jammu in 217 trucks and 1000 hotels are booked in Srinagar and 800 in after every six months,” he said.
The LG said that Madhya Pradesh was number one in the country in digital services but J&K has surpassed it and is number one in the country as far as online services are considered. “J&K is also number one in implementing the Public Services Guarantee Act (PSGA) and 866 officers have been fined so far for delaying the public services,” he said.
He said that last year 30500 jobs were provided to the youth in J&K while seven lakh entrepreneurs started their ventures. “J&K comprises only one percent of the country’s population but continues to be the priority for Prime Minister Narendera Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. J&K is the crown of India and is being treated the way it deserves,” he said.
