Srinagar

Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth on Tuesday said Jammu and Kashmir is witnessing a new era of peace, stability and development under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, citing the surge in tourist arrivals and the revival of the film industry in the Valley as indicators of the transformation.

Speaking to reporters after reviewing the progress of the AIIMS Awantipora project in Pulwama district, Seth said tourism in the Union Territory has reached unprecedented levels.

"Last year, 2.41 crore tourists visited Jammu and Kashmir, while 1.77 crore tourists have already visited this year so far," he said.

The minister also pointed to the return of filmmakers to Kashmir after decades of decline caused by militancy and unrest.

"There was a time when most films were shot in Kashmir, but those numbers came down after the turmoil of the late 1980s. Now, the film industry has rebounded," he said, adding that nearly 400 films were shot in the Valley last year.

Seth said Prime Minister Modi has consistently encouraged people to visit Kashmir and the North-East, emphasising national unity.

"The Prime Minister always stresses visiting Kashmir and the North-East. Our India is one, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari," he said.

Recalling his long association with the region, Seth said he has been visiting Kashmir since the 1970s and has witnessed a remarkable transformation over the decades.

"There is a vast difference between the Kashmir of those days and now. A lot of development has taken place, and the progress made in the last 12 years has been incomparable," he asserted.

Highlighting economic growth in traditional sectors, the minister said Kashmir's cricket bat industry has also expanded significantly.

"India has exported around 30 lakh cricket bats from Kashmir to countries such as Britain, Australia and Saudi Arabia," he said.

Speaking about the AIIMS Awantipora project, Seth described it as one of the most significant healthcare initiatives for the people of the Valley.

"People will no longer need to travel to Delhi or Chandigarh for treatment. The biggest gift to Kashmir and Srinagar is this AIIMS hospital," he said.

He noted that Jammu and Kashmir now has two AIIMS institutions—one each in Jammu and Srinagar.

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"Before Prime Minister Modi assumed office in 2014, there were only eight AIIMS in the country. Today, there are 23. In the health sector, he also introduced the precedent-setting Ayushman Bharat healthcare scheme," Seth added.