‘After many decades J&K recorded highest tourist footfall in 2022’
STATE TIMES NEWS
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said his government has been successful in ensuring peace and tranquility in Jammu and Kashmir following which large number of people are visiting the region.
In an apparent a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Narendra Modi said those who have recently visited the Union Territory can tell everyone about the conducive atmosphere.
He was replying to the debate on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address in Lok Sabha
“Decades back, I had also taken out a Yatra to Jammu and Kashmir. I had also resolved to raise the national flag at Lal Chowk in Srinagar. Terrorists had put out posters and challenged us, but we went ahead,” said Modi.
The Prime Minister said he was not scared of threats and made a statement in Jammu that he will go ahead with his plans.
“Terrorists had put up posters and said, ‘dekhte hain, kisne maa ka doodh piya hai jo Lal Chowk aake Tiranga phehra paaye’. That day on January 24, at a public rally, I had said, ‘terrorists pay heed. On January 26, sharp at 11 am, I will reach Lal Chowk without security and a bulletproof jacket. Faisla Lal Chowk pe hoga kisne apni maa ka doodh piya hai’. Then we unfurled the Tricolour at Lal Chowk,” PM Modi said, adding “I went without security, bullet proof jacket. When we unfurled the national flag, even enemies from the neighbouring nation were saluting us.
Peace has returned to the Valley; people can go without any fear. In terms of tourism, after many decades Jammu and Kashmir has recorded the highest number of footfall in 2022, he added.
“People in Jammu and Kashmir are celebrating democracy. And successful programmes of Har Ghar Tiranga are being conducted,” said the Prime Minister.
Many people were apprehensive that there will be law and order disturbance because of the tricolor, but time has changed and those who would oppose are participating in Tiranga Yatra.
Targeting Rahul Gandhi, Modi said when some people were trying to make headlines, movie theatres were running at full capacity.
Talking about the situation in northeast, Prime Minister Modi said that the entire region has changed. People can travel in train and see how people are celebrating 75 years of independence.
Responding to the points raised during the discussions, the Prime Minister said the world was seeing its prosperity in India’s growth story but a few “frustrated” persons were not ready to accept the achievements of the nation.
He said the world was looking at India with hope amid instability in some parts of the globe due to the once-in-a-century pandemic and conflicts.
The prime minister said India was emerging as a manufacturing hub and the world now sees its prosperity in the country’s growth.
“But some people who are neck deep in frustration refuse to accept India’s growth story. They cannot see the achievements of 140 crore Indians,” Modi said, targeting the Opposition.
He said President Droupadi Murmu’s address to Parliament was an inspiration for everyone.
Later in the day, Lok Sabha adopted the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address. Raising slogans, members of the BRS, Left parties and some members of the Congress walked out of Lok Sabha in protest as the Prime Minister was speaking.