Come without fear, Kashmir people awaiting with open hearts: Shivraj
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday described Jammu and Kashmir as the “crown jewel” of India and appealed to the general public to visit the Union Territory without fear.
“I want to tell everyone that the people here are waiting to welcome you with hearts full of love and warmth. Come here without fear and set a new example of love and brotherhood,” Chouhan said.
The Agriculture and Rural Development Minister was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the sixth convocation of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST). The convocation was also attended by J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah.
Chouhan’s appeal comes in the backdrop of a slump in tourism following the April 22 Pahalgam attack in which 25 tourists and a local pony operator were killed by terrorists.
Speaking at the gathering, Chouhan said, “I’ve been in Srinagar since yesterday. The cool breeze, the fragrance of the soil, the natural beauty, and the warmth of the people have truly touched my heart. Jammu and Kashmir is the crown jewel of India and truly a heaven on earth.”
He also shared his experience of visiting Dal Lake and taking a shikara ride. “An emotional moment for me was when a shikara wala said, ‘Mama, ask the people to come here. Our hearts are filled with love for them.’ It was deeply touching,” he said.
The Union Minister said he held meetings with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to discuss agriculture and rural development initiatives in the Union Territory. “We had extensive discussions on accelerating Jammu and Kashmir’s development,” Chouhan said.
He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed to building a ‘Viksit Bharat’ and that a prosperous Jammu and Kashmir with empowered farmers is vital to that vision. “We are fully committed to this goal,” he said.
Chouhan announced that the Centre is working to make Jammu and Kashmir a horticulture hub and has approved a Rs150-crore Clean Plant Centre for apples, almonds and walnuts. “Farmers need good-quality, disease-free plants and this centre will provide that. Subsidies will also be offered to those establishing private nurseries. Additionally, a tissue culture lab for saffron will be set up,” he said.
He noted that apple productivity in 5,000 hectares of orchards has risen from 10 tonnes per hectare to 60 tonnes, a six-fold increase. “I want to see Kashmiri apples exported worldwide,” Chouhan said.
Encouraging agricultural innovation, Chouhan urged students to launch startups and develop advanced technologies to boost the sector. He also shared his recent visit to border villages alongside scientists and the J&K Agriculture Minister, emphasising the importance of extending development to the most remote areas.
Chouhan praised SKUAST-K’s accomplishments and expressed confidence that the university would soon become the top-ranking agricultural university in the country. Nearly 5,250 students were awarded undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD degrees at the convocation.
J & K