Srinagar, May 22: The recent G20 summit held in Kashmir has emerged as a groundbreaking initiative by the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, signaling a significant step towards uplifting Jammu and Kashmir to new horizons.
Srinagar, serving as the host city for the inaugural international summit following the revocation of Article 370, a temporary provision in the Constitution, has reignited hopes for a brighter and more secure future for the Himalayan region.
For three long decades, the people of Kashmir endured the shadow of guns and bombs sent by Pakistan, fueling unrest in Jammu and Kashmir. Agents of the neighboring country operating within Kashmir sponsored street protests, stone-pelting, and shutdowns to disrupt the normal lives of the locals, paid by their masters across the Line of Control (LoC) to sow chaos, confusion, and uncertainty.
Until August 5, 2019, when the central government announced the decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and bifurcate it into two Union Territories, nobody in Kashmir could have fathomed that Srinagar, the summer capital, would host representatives from the world’s 20 most powerful nations, earning a place among global cities.
However, over the past three years, the Union Territory has undergone a remarkable transformation from instability to stability, from disturbances to thriving economic activities, and from a culture of stone-throwing and alienation to the renaissance of its rich heritage and culture.
The resilience of the people bid farewell to a nightmarish phase of disruptions, violence, and bloodshed. Presently, the scenario has transformed with a surge in tourism, as individuals flock to Kashmir to experience the best of times. In 2022 alone, nearly 188 million tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir, breaking all previous records.
The relentless efforts of Prime Minister Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have rescued Jammu and Kashmir from the quagmire of uncertainty, setting it on a path of peace, prosperity, and development. The enthusiastic response from the people of Jammu and Kashmir towards the G20 event in Srinagar signifies the transformative change witnessed in the Union Territory since 2019.
People are reaping the benefits of peace, witnessing a significant boost in economic activities, and enjoying a semblance of normalcy in their daily lives. The space for anti-peace elements has shrunk, thwarting the nefarious designs of those seeking to push Jammu and Kashmir back into an era of despair and hopelessness.
The common man in Jammu and Kashmir welcomes the Center’s decision to hold the third meeting of the G20 Tourism Working Group in Srinagar, recognizing the need to sustain the current era of peace and harmony for a more comfortable and happier life.
Massive investments received by Jammu and Kashmir since 2019 have created new employment opportunities, leading to the prosperity of its people. The G20 event in Srinagar has propelled Jammu and Kashmir onto a global stage, attracting increased global investments for industrialization and infrastructure development. This positive momentum has already been set in motion through the concerted efforts of the central government and the Union Territory administration.
Public participation in governance and inclusive development has instilled confidence among the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who now look forward to continued momentum for the betterment of their region.
It is noteworthy that Kashmir-based politicians, who governed Jammu and Kashmir from 1947 to 2018, propagated the notion that peace could not be achieved in the Himalayan region without engaging in talks with Pakistan and the terrorists it sponsored. Instead of seeking New Delhi’s assistance to end violence in the region, they leaned towards seeking Islamabad’s help to restore peace in Jammu and Kashmir.
