New Delhi, May 21: Union Ministers Dr Jitendra Singh and G. Kishan Reddy, along with Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir Manoj Sinha, will officially inaugurate the 3rd G20 Tourism meeting scheduled to be held at Srinagar.
Following the inaugural ceremony, there will be two important working sessions, one on ‘Film Tourism for Economic Growth and Cultural Preservation’ focusing on strategies to promote film tourism and another one on ‘Eco tourism’. There is also time allocated for bilateral meetings among the delegates.
Additionally, for the delegates during their stay in Kashmir, soft events have also been planned. For example, one of the side events is dedicated to films. Some of the popular Stars from the film industry may also attend it. Similarly, there is another event dedicated to highlighting the various facets and the beauty of Kashmir, which is known as the ‘Paradise on Earth’. A cultural program has also been scheduled.
In an interview with a national news agency, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh said, “The very fact that the G20 meeting is being held at Srinagar is in itself an indication of the change that has happened over the last 9 years, particularly following the pathbreaking initiatives taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
“It is going to be a full-fledged, wholesome G 20 meeting, like at any other location. This is also an indication of the fact that Jammu & Kashmir as a whole and especially Kashmir Valley, which was till a few years ago believed to be kind of a nerve center of terrorism and militancy, is now in the same mainstream line of activity as any other city in the country,” he said.
The minister emphasized that the event in Srinagar has been very professionally planned just like any other G20 event at any other place.
Dr Jitendra Singh said that till a few years ago it was a taboo to visit Jammu & Kashmir and such kinds of events had virtually come to a halt since 1990. “But what we see now is that of all the G20 meetings held all over the country, the maximum excitement is about the G20 meeting at Srinagar. The very fact that the location itself is Srinagar is adding an extra aura and enthusiasm,” he said.
Singh said that he believes that this is also an opportunity for India to showcase the changed scenario of Jammu & Kashmir which has happened under Prime Minister Modi as it was a very committed approach accompanied with courage and conviction.
