Picture : Twitter/ ANI
Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar is all set to host the third G20 Tourism Working Group meeting on Monday, all preparation has been put in place and security has been kept on high alert as this is the first major international event after Jammu and Kashmir’s special status was scrapped in 2019.
As per ANI report, For this three-day G20 Summit, from May 22-24, Kashmir is under a three-tier security grid for aerial surveillance drone monitoring is put in place National Security Guard (NSG) and MARCOS commandos are being deployed around the venue Jammu and Kashmir Police’s special operation group (SOG) will be deployed at several places to give security cover to prevent from any terror incident.
Srinagar city’s walls and roads are decorated to welcome delegates. The people of Kashmir are also ready to welcome the G20 summit meetings held in Srinagar which boosts the tourism and business sector in Kashmir.
While there will be no restrictions on public movement public in Srinagar all shops and business establishments are open to welcome the G20 summit guest. People from different sectors welcome the delegates and believe that this G20 summit meeting give a boost to the development of Jammu and Kashmir in all fields and boost the tourism sector on an international level which boosts the economy of the Union Territory.
#WATCH | Srinagar in Jammu & Kashmir is all set to host the #G20 meeting that begins here today.
The 3rd G20 Tourism Working Group meeting will be held here on May 22-24 pic.twitter.com/pZVI3ckbN5
— ANI (@ANI) May 22, 2023
Time and again Pakistan has shown strong discontent at New Delhi’s intention to convene the G20 Tourism Working Group conference in Kashmir.
Rejecting Pakistan’s criticism, India had said G20 meetings are being organized in the entire country and hence it is “natural” to hold meetings in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh as “these are inalienable parts of India.”
#WATCH | J&K | Graffiti depicting the scenic beauty and colours of Srinagar cover the walls of the city. The 3rd G20 Tourism Working Group meeting is being held here on May 22-24. pic.twitter.com/NLIz1Xw0bS
— ANI (@ANI) May 22, 2023
Pakistan recently slammed India’s decision to host a G20 meeting in Srinagar and parts of Kashmir as an “irresponsible move”.
#WATCH | J&K | As Srinagar hosts the 3rd G20 Tourism Working Group meeting, a local singer Bilal Ahmad says, “I would like to thank our Govt, who gave an opportunity to Kashmir to host this. We welcome the #G20Summit that begins today. This is for the development of our Kashmir.… pic.twitter.com/OppBT5qMpu
— ANI (@ANI) May 22, 2023
“G20 meetings are being organized in entire India, in all cities and parts of India. It is therefore natural to hold the meetings in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh because these are inalienable parts of India,” Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Official Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said during the MEA Weekly Media Briefing.
The G20 Tourism Working Group meeting has the highest delegate participation and will be the most significant event held in Jammu and Kashmir, G20 Chief Coordinator Harshvardhan Shringla said in a PTI report .
“We have the highest representation of foreign delegates in this working group meeting than the earlier two meetings. All I can say is we are very very happy with the turnout. We have the making of a unique meeting,” Shringla told reporters here.
Shringla was responding to a question about some member countries not registering for the working group meeting.
