Forget hartal calendars, stone pelting; J&K a tourism hot-spot, urban transformation capital now: LG Manoj Sinha

Says 20 percent of J&K’s curriculum to focus on history of fallen heroes like Gen Zorawar Singh, Rajinder Singh, Maqbool Sherwani; SC verdict on Article 370 to boost efforts of Centre in taking J&K to new heights; Over 2 Cr tourists visit J&K till Nov this year

Raja Syed Rather/Yogesh

Jammu, Dec 12  : Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Monday said Tuesday that hartal calendars and stone were history as J&K is emerging as the “tourism hot-spot and urban transformation capital for the country.”

“Gone are the days when strike calendars were issued at the behest of Pakistan and the streets of Kashmir would witness stone pelting. J&K has become a tourism hot spot and urban transformation capital for the rest of the country,” LG Sinha said as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), while addressing a gathering after unveiling the statue of General Zorwar Singh at Jammu University.

He said cities of J&K are no less than that of Delhi, Mumbai and other metropolitan cities of the country. “After cities, villages too are on the path of revamp and transformation,” he said.

Sinha said that out of the NCERT syllabus, 20 per cent will focus on the history of fallen heroes of J&K like General Zorwar Singh, Rajinder Singh and Maqbool Sherwani. “J&K children should know the history of the heroes who laid their lives for them,” he said.  Zorawar Singh, a military General of Dogra Rajput ruler Gulab Singh who achieved martyrdom on this day in 1842.

While welcoming the Supreme Court verdict on Article 370, LG Sinha said that the apex court upholding the abrogation of Article 370 would boost the efforts of the centre and Union Territory administration to take efforts of the centre and UT administration to take Jammu and Kashmir to new heights of development and provide justice to the deprived sections.

“Central government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation of a New J&K on August 5, 2019 and the SC judgment has brought a new hope among the people and will further strengthen the roots of unity and integrity of the nation,” the LG said, adding that the SC judgment is bound to further strengthen the roots of unity and integrity of the nation.

The LG said under the holistic agriculture plan, the income of J&K’s farmers will increase and from number 5 rank, farmers’ increase will become number one in the country.

He said that J&K is fast becoming a tourism hot-spot from terrorism hot-spot. “Last year, till November 30, 1.88 Crore tourists visited J&K. This year, the figure has crossed 2 Crore up to November 30,” he said.

The LG said that people of J&K should remain assured that the government is committed to upliftment of every segment of society including women. “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narender Modi, an atmosphere of peace and prosperity prevails in J&K where people are living a free life,” he said—(KNO)