J-K’s scenic beauty, development make news as violence wanes off – ThePrint –

Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir [India], May 28 (ANI): After August 5, 2019 — when the Centre announced its decision to abrogate Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and bifurcate it into two Union Territories — the Himalayan region has remained in the news for its scenic beauty and tourists thronging the union territory in droves.

The reporting pattern has changed as well. In the last three years, terrorist-related incidents are down. Stone-pelting has become a thing from the past.

The media is highlighting the positive developments in Jammu & Kashmir, as Pakistani-sponsored terrorism has diminished since 2019.

The recently held G20 meeting in Srinagar was given wide publicity by the international media with many of them highlighting India’s efforts to restore stability and normalcy in Kashmir.

The G20 summit was the first international event to be held in Jammu & Kashmir since the repeal of Article 370 of the Constitution, a temporary provision. The summit was attended by delegates from 17 different countries.

They also visited historical places in Srinagar. They pledged to return to Jammu and Kashmir with their friends and families, and promote it as a tourist destination in their respective countries.

In the last 70 years, Kashmiri politicians who ruled Jammu & Kashmir had created a perception that Article 370 served as a link between JK & New Delhi. If it was changed, JK would be pushed into Pakistan’s lap.

Their narrative revolved around telling the people that the JK’s so-called special status is a shield that protects them and they have to safeguard it at any cost.

Former rulers from the princely state misled and misinformed the new regimes in New Delhi.

When Narendra Modi became the Prime Minister in 2014, he announced that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stands for ‘ek nishan, ek pradhan and ek samvidhan’ (one symbol, one head and one constitution). He stated that Jammu-Kashmir was an integral part and will remain of India. It would also be brought up to parity with the rest of the country.

Till Modi came into power, no government at the Centre made an attempt to change JK’s status quo and merge it completely with the Union of India. The truth is that no leader dared to take the risk because JK’s rulers had fabricated a myth claiming that such decisions could have far reaching consequences and Kashmir will burn.

Between 2014 and 2019, the Modi-led government studied the origins the Kashmir problem. It determined the factors which allowed Pakistan to maintain a proxy conflict in the area for three decades. This included the role played by separatists as well as the funding given to terrorists.

In 2016, after Pakistan-sponsored terror groups attacked an Army base at Uri in North Kashmir, the Modi regime, for the very first time in the last 30 years, asked the Indian Army (IAF) to cross the Line of Control. They then carried out surgical strikes on terror training camps inside Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Precision was evident in the strikes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi supervised all military movements personally.

The Indian Army crossing LoC sent an unmistakable message to Pakistan, that terrorism won’t be tolerated. All their actions would be avenged.

A suicide bomber from the Jaish-e-Mohammad terror group rammed a vehicle carrying explosives at a convoy consisting of Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF) in South Kashmir, Pulwama. This resulted in 40 CRPF members being killed.

In just 10 days following the attack, Indian Air Force aircraft penetrated deep into Pakistani territory and bombed JeM terror camp at Balakot. The air strikes drove home a point that if Pakistan and the terrorists sponsored by it keep on indulging in misadventures on Indian soil, New Delhi’s next step could be harsher.

Modi’s regime, after the 2019 Pulwama attack, launched a massive crackdown on Pakistani agents in Kashmir. Many of them have been arrested. They had their funding channels cut off, their support system dismantled, and the organizations that preached separatism banned.

Amit Amita Shah, his loyal lieutenant and Union Home Minister, was assigned the task of resolving Kashmir’s problem when PM Modi won a second term in power with thumping majorities.

Just within a few months of assuming charge of the Union Home Ministry, Amit Shah moved a Bill in the Parliament to revoke Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and on August 5, 2019, the controversial Article which kept J&K on the edge for 70 years was written off.

With the aim of restoring the Himalayan region’s pristine glory, the erstwhile princely State was reorganized in two Union Territories – Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The Himalayan region had been subjected to a Pakistani-sponsored assault from 1990 to 2019

The Prime Minister Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah demonstrated courage and political will to address the root cause of terrorist activity in JK.

In the last three years, Jammu & Kashmir has received investment proposals in the thousands of crores. And, 1.88 million tourists are expected to visit JK by 2022. Over 5 lakh youths have received employment through self-employment programmes.

New roads and highways were built. Jammu and Kashmir has made great strides in becoming self-sufficient with regards to power generation. People are now enjoying 5G internet speeds, women have equal opportunities and the train connecting Kashmir to the rest of India is just a few months off.

The stories of violence and death have been replaced by stories about foreign envoys, tourists and new tourist attractions in Jammu & Kashmir. Bollywood has also returned to the UT.

In the last more than three year, the situation on the ground in JK improved, as the PM Modi regime gave a fitting reply to terrorists and separatists who were sponsored, funded and maintained by Pakistan. (ANI)

This report was automatically generated by ANI News Service. ThePrint does not take responsibility for any of its content.