G20 meet: J&K suffered for 30 yrs but terror ecosystem now isolated, says L-G Manoj Sinha

“J&K is witnessing a new era that has opened limitless possibilities of growth and peace. Now even foreign investments are coming into J&K, green shoots of better times people are anxiously looking up to,” Sinha said.

Delegates participating in the G20 tourism working group meeting, at the Dal Lake in Srinagar on Monday. (Express photo by Divya A)

The L-G also said that “injustice, exploitation and discrimination, which several sections of society faced for seven long decades owing to circumstances that evolved mostly because of orchestration from abroad, has been completely eliminated”.

“We are ensuring social equality and equal economic opportunity to all citizens, which is enabling them to contribute to nation building,” he said.

Later, during an interaction with reporters at Raj Bhavan, Sinha said J&K is now capable and ready to host international events of any level although “international summits and meetings are held at the Centre’s prerogative”.

At the entry to the venue of the G20 meeting in Srinagar on Sunday. (Express photo by Shuaib Masoodi)

“We have been able to offer all kinds of facilities to the visiting delegates,” he said. “Anything lacking this time is because of the legacy we inherited. Even though we have accelerated the pace of development (in J&K) by 10 times, it will take seven years to bridge the 70-year-long gap.”

While the G20 event will give a fillip to international tourist numbers, which has seen a dip in the post-Covid era, it will also help further a dialogue on how to work towards withdrawing negative travel advisories on Kashmir, Sinha said.

“Visitors will go back with the message to their respective countries that this is a very peaceful land and a must-visit tourist destination,” he said, calling the G20 event “a historic opportunity”.

Although he did not name any country, the L-G said that “representatives from some of those countries that have issued negative travel advisories are also present at the G20 meet”.

Delegates were presented with a Kashmiri shawl and a Dogri saffa upon their arrival. (Express)

Delegates from 27 countries are participating in the meet. China, Turkey and Saudi Arabia have stayed away from the event.

Asked about Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s recent remarks on “India abusing its G20 presidency to push its political agenda” by holding the meet in Kashmir, the L-G said, “Pakistan should be more worried about taking care of the basic needs of its citizens. India has left all these things behind and moved ahead.”

In fact, he said, the G20 presidency is a proud moment for India and the United Nations has also sent many representatives to the Srinagar meeting. “This shows that the whole world wants India to hold such events,” he said, adding that the overwhelming participation “is a reflection of India’s strength and ancient values”.

Officials said five UN organisations, including UN Headquarters, UNWTO and UNEP, are being represented at the meeting, apart from a number of international organisations such as ILO.

Talking about unleashing the tourism potential of the Union Territory, Sinha said as many as 300 new tourist destinations have been identified, and adequate infrastructure is being developed at these places, so that the region gets more tourists – international as well as domestic.

He also underlined the infrastructural turnaround that is being brought about in the region and the overall peaceful situation. “Jammu & Kashmir is making rapid strides in terms of peace and progress,” he said. “We have been able to eliminate, to a great extent, the terrorist ecosystem sponsored by the neighbouring country.”

“It is no more a land of hartals, separatists and stone-pelters,” he said.

The L-G also said there is a plan to turn Gulmarg into an international-level winter tourism destination. In fact, there was an initial plan to take the delegates to Gulmarg, but it had to be called off due to logistical issues, he said. However, he said, “We are ready to welcome the delegates to Gulmarg on their next visit to Kashmir.”