With ‘Op Sindoor’, India taught ‘good lesson’ to Pakistan: Maharashtra DyCM Shinde

Srinagar, Jun 22: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday said that the Indian armed forces taught a good lesson to Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack in which innocent lives were lost in the terrorist attack.

Talking to media persons here, Shinde said that people of outside states were scared and worried about their safety in wake of the terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam, adding that people showed absolute courage. “Our army taught Pakistan a good lesson. Our Prime Minister’s statement that terrorism should be dismantled in Kashmir is an apt one,” he said.

Maharashtra Deputy CM said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has outrightly stated that terrorism should be eliminated, which will pave the way for the development.

” The government is taking development initiatives as well. You all know better than us that Kashmir is under the process of development. Tunnels, bypasses and railways are being built here,” Shinde said. Shinde said if the development continues at the same pace, it will create job opportunities for the people of Kashmir and will also result in decrease of terrorism and their activities here. “During my tour here and to Kargil, I saw people from Maharashtra come to Kashmir and Kargil on a large scale. Even people from all over the world visit here for vacations,” he said.

Eknath Shinde said that revival of tourism will be a defeat to terrorism. Before arriving in Srinagar, Shinde flagged off the Kargil Marathon, an annual event jointly organized by Sarhad and the Indian Army.

“It has been a routine for the last eight years. Many people participated in the Marathon in a good atmosphere. Marathons are held in big cities. But it is a big deal to have a marathon in such mountainous areas,” he said. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said he decided to visit Kashmir and Kargil to know the background of the Pahalgam terrorist incident.

“I thought I should go there. Around 2000-3000 people participated in the marathon and the event was a success. Besides the students and local youth who participated in the event, Army personnel were very happy,” he said.

During his visit to the Kargil War Memorial, Shinde handed over a Rs 3 crore cheque from the Maharashtra government as a contribution towards building infrastructure and developing a laser show for tourists at the memorial site.

“This is our humble contribution. A promise we made earlier, and today we fulfilled it. The laser show will tell the story of bravery and attract more visitors to this place of sacrifice,” he said.

About the situation in Srinagar, Shinde said he interacted with locals, hotel owners and horsemen besides some tourists including those who had come from Maharashtra.

“Tourists from Maharashtra have also come here, I met them on the way. The locals here want tourists to come but they need support for revival of the tourism,” he said.

He said that efforts are being made to ensure tourism in the Valley bounces back stronger as livelihoods of thousands are dependent on it.