Kashmir no longer a ’Terror Hotspot’, has become a tourist hotspot: Centre

Jammu and Kashmir, which used to be a "terrorist hotspot", has become a "tourist hotspot" as 22 lakh tourists visited the Union Territory in 2022, nearly four time more than the previous highest, the Union Home Ministry said on Tuesday.

According to the 'Year End Review 2022' of the Home Ministry, released on Tuesday, the number of terror incidents in J and K decreased from 417 in 2018 to 229 in 2021, while the number of security forces personnel martyred has reduced from 91 in 2018 to 42 in 2021.

"Earlier, it was a terrorist hotspot and today it has become a tourist hotspot in Kashmir Valley. Earlier, maximum six lakh tourists used to visit every year, whereas this year till now, 22 lakh tourists have visited. This has given employment to thousands of youth," the year end review said.

The ministry said there are no incidents of stone pelting in Jammu and Kashmir now as the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is moving ahead on the path of development with firmness In the UT.

As many as 42,000 people succumbed to terrorism and in Delhi no one flinched an eyelid, but now under the leadership of Modi, there is complete control of the security forces on terrorism, it said.

There has been about 54 percent reduction in terrorist incidents, 84 percent in the deaths of security forces and about 22 percent in recruitment of terrorists in J and K, it added.

Under the Prime Minister's Development Package for Jammu and Kashmir, about 63 projects have been built at a cost of ₹ 80,000 crore in hydro-power electricity. The work of Kiru project at a cost of ₹ 4,287 crore is under progress, the ministry said.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated and had laid the foundation stone of 240 development projects worth about ₹ 2,000 crore in Srinagar on October 5, 2022.

The Home Ministry said earlier the explanation of 'Jamhooriyat' (democracy) in Kashmir was only for “three families, 87 MLAs and 6 MPs” but Modi has connected 30,000 people with 'Jamhooriyat' by taking democracy to the village panches, sarpanches, BDC members and zilla panchayats.

Earlier, due to Article 370, Gujjar-Bakarwal and Paharis could not get the benefit of reservation in education, elections and jobs, but now after the removal of the Article, they will all get reservation, it said.

Under the rule of the “three families” for 70 years, only ₹ 15,000 crore investment came to Jammu and Kashmir and Modi has brought investment of ₹ 56,000 crore in just 3 years, the year end review said.

Security forces and police are pro-actively conducting coordinated counter-terrorism operations to fulfilling the Prime Minister Modi's vision of a prosperous and peaceful Jammu and Kashmir, it said.

Amit Shah appreciated efforts of security agencies and the administration of Jammu and Kashmir for keeping streets free from violence and significantly restoring rule of law.

The home minister also said the terror eco-system comprising elements that aid, abet and sustain terrorist-separatist campaign to detriment of well-being of common man requires to be completely dismantled.