‘See visible change’: 24 envoys after J&K visit
JAMMU/SRINAGAR: A group of 24 foreign envoys visiting Jammu and Kashmir to assess the ground situation said they “could see a visible change” and that “development is happening”, according to officials privy to their luncheon meet with lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha in Jammu on Thursday.
The envoys, including European Union ambassador Ugo Astuto and diplomats of key European states such as French envoy Emmanuel Lenain and Italian envoy Vincenzo de Luca, began a two-day visit to the union territory on Wednesday. This is the third group of diplomats to be taken to the region since January last year.
Presenting a vote of thanks on behalf of the envoys, Eritrean ambassador Alem Tsehaye Woldemariam said, “We can see a visible change in Jammu and Kashmir.”
“The envoys felt very happy over the development, which has started happening in Jammu and Kashmir. They expressed their gratitude to the union government for presenting them an opportunity to visit the region,” said an official.
The envoys showed keen interest in the situation and had many questions on the development model and plans of the government for the next two years, the officials said.
Sinha told the envoys that years of suffering for the people ended on August 5, 2019 with the scrapping of region’s special status. He said the prime minister’s efforts had “ushered the union territory into a new era of socioeconomic development and empowerment of the people”.
“The Central government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has drawn up excellent ideas and initiatives for industrialisation, even in far flung areas of the union territory so that more jobs can be created for our youth,” Sinha said.
The envoys later met administrative secretaries and were briefed on developmental and welfare schemes. Earlier, the envoys met chief justice Pankaj Mithal soon after their arrival in Jammu at around noon.
Before their departure from
Srinagar, the envoys were briefed by senior army and police officials at Badami Bagh cantonment on the security situation and Pakistan’s role in running terror camps across the Line of Control. They were informed about Pakistan’s efforts to fuel terror in Kashmir by using trans-border tunnels, drones and narco-terrorism.
Lt Gen BS Raju, general officer commanding of Chinar Corps and Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar were among the officials who briefed the envoys.
On being asked about various terror groups, Raju said, “It is a clear message that Pakistansponsored elements do not want a change to the status quo. Any activity that leads to normalisation of the situation is opposed.”