Janta Dal (United) Jammu and Kashmir president G.M. Shaheen on Monday launched a sharp attack on the National Conference-led administration, accusing it of failing to revive Kashmir’s tourism sector even after completing one year in office.
In a press statement issued from the party’s Srinagar office, Shaheen said the government has not presented any concrete roadmap, policy framework, or timeline to restore confidence in the tourism industry, which he described as the economic backbone of the region.
“After one full year of governance, there is not even a basic revival strategy for tourism. No clear policy, no planning, and no confidence-building measures have been placed before the public. This reflects a serious abdication of responsibility,” Shaheen said.
He alleged that the sector continues to suffer from policy paralysis and administrative inertia, warning that symbolic gestures and publicity-driven announcements cannot substitute for effective governance. “Tourism does not survive on slogans or photo opportunities. It requires functional infrastructure, financial support, safety assurances, and long-term planning—areas where this government has completely failed,” he stated.
Highlighting the dependence of a large section of Kashmir’s population on tourism for livelihood, Shaheen said the government’s inaction has pushed thousands of families toward economic distress. “This is not just a policy failure; it is an assault on the livelihoods of people who depend directly or indirectly on tourism,” he added.
The JD(U) leader urged the Government of India to intervene directly, asserting that only decisive central support and oversight can prevent further deterioration of the sector. “The local administration has failed on all fronts. Continued silence from the Centre will only deepen the crisis,” he warned.
Shaheen concluded by saying that the present administration has lost both direction and credibility and is no longer capable of steering Kashmir’s tourism economy toward recovery.
Comments are closed.