J&K no longer a land of strikes and separatist activities: Lt Guv Manoj Sinha

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, on Tuesday, said Kashmir is no more a land of hartals and separatist activities, and claimed that security forces have succeeded in destroying such an ecosystem.

Addressing a press conference in Srinagar, Sinha said the administration is focused on peace, progress, prosperity, and people for the last three years.

He said for the first time in seven decades, the people of Kashmir are enjoying the benefits of democracy. A three-tier Panchayat Raj system has been established for the first time to ensure grassroots democracy, he added.

Governor Sinha said Kashmir is no more a land of hartal (strikes), school closures, and separatist activities.

“ Separatist activities have come to an end,” he said. “As far as the militant ecosystem, the security grid has succeeded in destroying it to a large extent.”

Sinha expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for holding the third tourism working group meeting of G20 counties in Srinagar. He said the event will help boost tourism in Kashmir.

“I am hopeful that the representatives of foreign countries that are part of the G-20 event in Srinagar will help lift the negative travel advisories imposed on J&K by some foreign countries,’’ he said. “I am glad to see that the representatives of some foreign countries who have imposed travel advisory on J&K are also participating in the Srinagar event.”

He said the government is opening 300 new destinations to promote film tourism.

When asked what the administration was doing about the infrastructure to host two crore tourists in Jammu and Kashmir, the LG said the tourist infrastructure is being upgraded at a great pace. On press freedom in J&K and arresting of journalists, he said 400 newspapers are being published in the UT and there is absolute press freedom.

He said only three journalists are serving detention and agencies are investigating cases registered against these.