New Delhi, July 24: Addressing the recent spike in deaths of soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, highlighted the significant progress made in counter-terrorism efforts while acknowledging the loss of brave soldiers.
Minister of State Nityanand Rai’s clarification follows a surge in terror attacks in the Jammu region, including an attack on an army convoy in Kathua and encounters in Doda and Udhampur.
He further noted, “80 per cent of deaths of the people have been reduced now as compared to when the Congress was in power. After the abrogation of Article 370, at least 200 militants have been killed by the Indian Army.”
Meanwhile, citing a report availed to the MHA by the Jammu and Kashmir government, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai said “The tourism sector has recorded an annual average growth rate of 15.13 per cent during the last three years.”.
As per the Minister, a total of 1,08,41,009 tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir between January to June 2024 and 2,11,24,674 in 2023– all-time high so far– followed by the visit of 1,88,64,332 tourists in 2022, 1,13,14,884 in 2021 and 34,70,834 tourists in 2020.
He clarified that the footfall in the tourism sector in 2020 was due to the Covid pandemic. The government of Jammu and Kashmir has reported that several measures have been taken that led to significant improvement in the tourism sector including Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Policy 2020 notified by the government.
Other measures comprise availing of incentives under the Jammu and Kashmir Industrial Policy- 2021 considering the status of industry to the tourism sector in the Union Territory.
