New Delhi: Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Sunday said that normalcy has been restored and tourism is flourishing in Jammu and Kashmir.
In a statement issued by the Ministry Of Personnel Singh the Union Minister of State for Personnel pointed to the integration of the northeast and Jammu and Kashmir into India’s mainstream development and said “Visit Pahalgam today, where a recent tragic incident took place, and you will find it bustling with visitors”. “For decades, these areas awaited railway connectivity — but under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, trains now operate in valleys that were previously isolated,” he noted. The minister recalled the inaugural commissioning of Jammu station in 1972 and the lengthy period of stagnation until Prime Minister Modi realized this aspiration over fifty years later, recently flagging off the Vande Bharat train. Regarding the present circumstances in Jammu and Kashmir, Singh assured that normalcy has returned and tourism is thriving. Emphasizing the government’s accomplishments over the past eleven years under Prime Minister Modi’s guidance, the minister remarked that each year has represented a new milestone — whether in infrastructure, governance, technology, or youth empowerment — generating unparalleled opportunities for every Indian. Referring to the prime minister’s landmark 2016 initiative of “Start-Up India, Stand-Up India,” Singh highlighted how it expanded the employment landscape beyond conventional government positions. “It was only then that people understood that a job does not solely equate to ‘sarkari naukri’ (government job), but also encompasses innovation, entrepreneurship, and startups,” he stated. In mentioning the young crew members from Manipur who tragically lost their lives in the Ahmedabad air crash, the minister remarked that it illustrates “how far the region has progressed from isolation to becoming part of the international aviation and hospitality sectors.” Singh reaffirmed India’s leadership in the domains of space and biotechnology, underscoring the nation’s increasing global prominence in science and innovation.
