Questions delay in Heritage city status, tourism development for Jammu
STATE TIMES NEWS
NAGROTA: Senior BJP leader and MLA Jammu East, Yudhvir Sethi, launched a sharp attack on the National Conference-led government, accusing it of persistent neglect of the Jammu region in matters of development, tourism, and heritage preservation.
Addressing a gathering in Nagrota Area , Sethi said that despite his repeated pleas in the Assembly, the Jammu city has not yet been declared a Heritage City, which is a long-pending demand of the people.
“If the National Conference government is truly concerned about the Jammu Division, then why has Jammu City not been declared a Heritage City despite my repeated requests in the Assembly?” he questioned.
Sethi further criticised the government for failing to come up with any concrete tourism development proposal for Jammu, even though the region holds immense historical, cultural, and religious significance. “Why is there still no comprehensive plan for the tourism development of Jammu City? This apathy clearly reflects the discriminatory attitude of the Omar Abdullah government towards the aspirations of the Jammu region,” he asserted.
The MLA said that while successive governments have focused extensively on promoting tourism in Kashmir, Jammu-which serves as the gateway to the state and houses numerous temples, heritage sites, and cultural landmarks-continues to be sidelined.
“Jammu deserves equal attention and funding for tourism and infrastructure development. The people of this region have been contributing immensely to the economy and cultural harmony of the Union Territory, yet they continue to face discrimination,” Sethi added.
Reiterating his commitment to raising Jammu’s voice at every platform, Sethi said he would continue to fight for the recognition of Jammu City as a Heritage City and the formulation of a comprehensive tourism development policy for the region. “Jammu’s identity, history, and contribution cannot be ignored any longer. It’s time the government acts, not just promises,” he said.
