"Kashmir is moving ahead in the direction of peace":Union Minister Ramdas Athawale

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], August 8 (ANI):Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale on Thursday said that Kashmir is moving ahead in the direction of peace, adding that tourists are visiting the valley from all across the world.
Ramdas Athawale met Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha on Thursday.
The meeting, which lasted for half an hour, was held in Raj Bhavan, Srinagar.
Later, addressing a press conference in Srinagar, the Union Minister said, "We are looking at Kashmir with good intentions. The situation in Kashmir is changing. Kashmir is moving ahead in the direction of peace. Sproadic incidents of terrorism are taking place."
Addressing the security concerns of the tourists, he said, "There is no fear for the tourists to come here. Tourists are arriving here from all over the world.".
Citing the latest data, he said that over 2. 11 crore tourists have visited Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370.

He also said that the Lieutenant Governor of (Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha) has devised a "good plan" to address the unemployment woes of youth in Kashmir. I held a meeting with LG Sahab for half an hour.".
Meanwhile, a delegation of the Election Commission of India (ECI) led by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar reached Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar on Thursday to review poll preparedness ahead of the upcoming assembly polls in the Union Territory.
The dates for the Assemby polls have not been announced yet.
Election Commissioners Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu were part of the delegation.
As part of the review process, the ECI delegation will meet with the various stakeholders including officials and leaders of different political parties in the UT.
In August 2019, the Centre revoked Article 370, which gave special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcated the region into two Union Territories- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. (ANI)