SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Monday said that the sounds of development have taken the place of the sound of bullets in Kashmir.
Addressing the “Baat Bharat Ki Conclave-2024 Panchjanya in New Delhi, LG Sinha said there has been a 350 percent increase in foreign tourist arrivals since the G-20 meeting in Srinagar, compared to 55,000 foreign visitors who visited the Union Territory last year.
He said that a plan has been rolled out to dismantle militancy and its eco-system in JK. “The new year celebrations at Lal Chowk on December 31 last year went viral on social media. At present, nightlife is considered a part of the developed cities and it has returned to Kashmir after a long wait. This signifies that the atmosphere is peaceful in the region.”
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 added that despite the fact that the militancy was on its deathbed in J&K, the adversary continues with its efforts to fuel anti-national activities. “But the plan has been rolled out to not just root out terrorism but to dismantle its entire ecosystem.”
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.
Manoj Sinha confirmed 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 as per KNO.
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—(KNO)
