Pahalgam Attack Painful, Nation Must Move On: Gajendra Shekhawat

SRINAGAR: Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, on Tuesday described the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which left 26 civilians dead, as an “Amavas ki kali raat” (a dark moonless night), stating that while the tragedy was painful, the nation must move forward with resilience and unity.

Addressing the Tourism Secretaries’ Meet of Union Territories here, Shekhawat said, “We must not let one night define the future. We have to forget the Pahalgam terror attack as ‘Amavas ki kali raat’ and focus on building a brighter tomorrow.”

Referring to the ongoing event, he said, “This is the first time such a conference is being held to collectively discuss and promote tourism in the Union Territories.”

The Union Minister said that Jammu and Kashmir has undergone a significant transformation since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. “J&K has witnessed unprecedented development in recent years,” he said.

Shekhawat noted that global perceptions of India are changing rapidly, with tourism playing a central role in economic growth and in shaping India’s international image. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has always maintained that the Union Territories must emerge as tourism powerhouses,” he said.

Highlighting the expansion of religious tourism in J&K, the Minister said the region was once known only for a few pilgrimage sites, but multiple new locations have now been integrated into the religious tourism circuit.

He also stressed the potential of adventure, water-based, and nature tourism in the Union Territory. “Lavender tourism, for instance, has drawn lakhs of tourists to Jammu and Kashmir and has become an emerging attraction,” he added.

Emphasising the importance of connectivity, Shekhawat said, “The first prerequisite to developing any tourist destination is ease of access—by road, rail, or air.”

He called for substantial infrastructure development to transform lesser-known locations into global tourist destinations.

The Minister proposed a structured, forward-looking approach to tourism development. “To make any destination globally recognised, we need sustained effort. Events and festivals should be calendarised and held annually to build a lasting identity,” he said. “Monthly exhibitions, fixed-date festivals, and curated cultural experiences can become the foundation for off-season tourism.” —(KNO)