My big salute goes to all those who support tourism: Union Minister
The Modi government Wednesday hailed the Hurriyat call for tourists and yatris to visit the Valley.
Minister of State for Tourism Mahesh Sharma welcomed the initiative.
“My big salute goes to all those who support tourism, and yes, we are for it. The vision of our great Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) is to see that the Valley comes back again. We are all prepared to see and ensure that the tourism industry in the Valley flourishes and for that any steps need to be taken, we will come a step forward. Tourism will change the shape of the Valley and will bring the glory back. As a Tourism Minister I welcome their initiative and of course other calls will be taken by the Government of India,” Sharma told reporters here.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said everyone should promote tourism as Jammu and Kashmir has been very, very important for the sector.
“If there is peace in the Valley, tourism will flourish there and if tourism increases, it will economically benefit the state and its people. Promotional tourism is absolutely necessary to revive the economy because it is very important part of their social life,” he said.
Separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik, who are spearheading the ongoing agitation in Kashmir, had in a surprise move last night invited tourists and pilgrims to visit the Valley to enjoy the traditional hospitality of its people while promising them safety.
Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Jitendra Singh also welcomed the separatists’ move saying, “Had they got the enlightenment earlier, the tourism sector would not have got disrupted and we could have also saved tremendous loss of lives and property in the Valley.”
“But as I said, most of the Kashmir-centric politicians, they speak according to convenience and the requirement of the occasion,” he said.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge accused the state and central governments of not taking interest in boosting tourism in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Why the tourists are not visiting Jammu and Kashmir? (It is) Because of the government’s laxity. They are not taking interest. Also, the central government is also not taking proper steps to normalise the situation and Hurriyat is also part of it. Therefore they both are responsible. When they (separatists) are realising that people are revolting, now they are telling this thing (to visit Valley),” Kharge said.
