JNU row has had a bad effect on tourism, says minister Sharma
VARANASI: Union minister of state for tourism Mahesh Sharma on Saturday accepted that the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) row has had a bad effect on the tourism industry.
Sharma was interacting with reporters before hearing the grievances of locals at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s public relations office here. Modi represents Varanasi in the Lok Sabha.
“I accept that such incidents certainly have an effect on the tourism industry. The image of the nation also gets tarnished by such incidents,” the minister said. Sharma is among the four Union ministers deputed to hear public grievances in Varanasi every Saturday.
“The ministry has taken several initiatives to promote tourism. Our efforts have yielded desired results and more tourists visited India last year. We are making continuous efforts to promote tourism. But such incidents have a bad effect on our efforts,” Sharma added.
Striking a patriotic note, he said, “All of us, including youth, should try to make our nation the strongest. Youth should come together and join hands for the nation’s development. The nation is above all.”
Sharma also inaugurated a departmental museum, an audiovideo conference hall, departmental lab and the newly constructed building of Numismatic Society of India at the Banaras Hindu University. “Conservation, protection and spreading Indian values is our first and foremost duty. Construction of this museum is an important step in this direction.” he said.