Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 18: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary today said the presence of students from across India at the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in Ompora area of central Kashmir’s Budgam district, demonstrates that the region is peaceful and counters negative narratives often portrayed in national media.
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Speaking to reporters during a visit to the institute at the SIDCO Industrial Complex at Ompora area of Budgam, Choudhary said, “Children from all corners of the country have come here. This is the beauty of Jammu and Kashmir. The students studying here are an answer to those in the New Delhi media who claim the situation in Kashmir is not good.”
The Deputy CM visited NIFT to assess student engagement and the institute’s infrastructure. He praised the students, particularly female students, for their conduct, noting that their feedback on Kashmir’s beauty and hospitality was overwhelmingly positive. “The children gave me a thumbs up. They said what is shown on TV is not Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir is very beautiful; the people here are very beautiful,” he said.
Choudhary also raised concerns about the quality of NIFT’s construction, pointing to compromises in workmanship and billing under previous administrations. “There has been some compromise with quality somewhere. I will see what can be done. I will consult contractors and officials to repair these issues and will also take this up with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah,” he said.
Addressing tourism, the Deputy CM said major destinations, including Tosmaidan, Yusmarg, and Durrpathri in Budgam, remain closed following the Pahalgam attack, affecting tourism. He also highlighted the destruction of apple and rice crops and the hardships faced by local residents who lost homes, food, and livelihoods. “The Government has been facing one challenge after another. First, the floods and cloudbursts. Then, operations like Sandoor. After that, the situation at pilgrimage sites such as Mata Vaishnodevi and Mata Machel, where people lost their lives. Despite this, the media does not show the true picture,” he said.
Choudhary criticized political parties, particularly the BJP, for exploiting these situations for political gain instead of addressing the losses suffered by farmers and daily wage workers. “Our fruits are being destroyed, apple crops lost, and people are unemployed. The focus should be on compensation and development, not politics,” he said.
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