West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday appealed to the Centre to take immediate steps to ensure the safety and security of Jammu and Kashmir, stating that such measures were crucial for reviving tourism in the region.
Banerjee met J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at the state secretariat in Kolkata and accepted his invitation to visit Kashmir, saying she will try to visit the region after the Durga Puja celebrations.
“Omar visited here and invited me, and I have accepted his invitation. I will try to visit Kashmir after the Puja,” she said.
This was the first interaction between the two leaders since the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed. Among the victims, three hailed from West Bengal.
Urging the Central government to take measures to increase security in Kashmir, Banerjee said the law and order situation in the region is not subject to the state government there as that is a union territory. “The Government of India must take measures to enable more people to visit there. Border security is the responsibility of the Central government, so it should take the necessary steps. If needed, they should speak with Omar Abdullah and take appropriate measures,” she said.
“We are ready to support Kashmir in every way possible. I encourage more tourists from our state to visit Kashmir—there is no reason to fear,” the CM said.
Meanwhile, Abdullah said he had a “good meeting with Didi (Mamata)” and extended an invitation for her to visit Jammu and Kashmir. He also appealed to potential tourists from West Bengal to visit Kashmir, assuring them that full security would be provided to tourists.
“It is my sincere wish that in the coming days, there will be close cooperation between West Bengal and Jammu & Kashmir to enhance trade, tourism, and mutual relations. It is our responsibility to ensure all necessary assistance and security for all tourists coming from West Bengal,” he said.
Addressing an inaugural programme of travel and tourism fair in Kolkata earlier in the day, Abdullah expressed his desire for enhanced cooperation between the two regions in areas like trade, tourism, and mutual relations, and assured that his government would provide necessary assistance and security to tourists from West Bengal.
“I understand everybody’s concern after the Pahalgam terror attack (this year). But be assured that all security-related steps have been taken by the government, and trust the people who have been to the place after the attack, rather than believing those sitting outside and making judgments without even knowing the place,” he said.
“There are some places where we are conducting security audits. We are working to give tourists a safe and secure destination,” he added.
Expressing gratitude to the West Bengal government, he said, “People of West Bengal are with J&K. The relationship between the two regions transcends over time in the context of ‘trust and affection’.”
“She (CM Mamata Banerjee) has always stood by the people of Jammu and Kashmir. In 2019, when I was going through a difficult time, Didi stood by my side and said that what was happening was not right. After the Pahalgam attack and ‘Operation Sindoor,’ Didi sent a delegation to Poonch and Rajouri to meet the affected families and stand by them. I am deeply grateful to her for this initiative,” Abdullah said.
“West Bengal stood with J&K both politically and economically. We offer adventure and destination tourism. On the ground, there is an air of hope of a new beginning,” he added.
Noting that the Amarnath Yatra is currently going on in the state, Abdullah claimed that there is hope for a new beginning in J&K with tourism “bouncing back” after the terror attack and also that there has been a “noticeable increase” in the number of direct flights to Jammu and Kashmir: “Tourism is bouncing back. I am here in the city (Kolkata) to boost that.”
“2025 has not been an easy year for us. The year can be divided into two parts: before the Pahalgam attack, when Kashmir Valley was packed with tourists, and after the Pahalgam attack, when the region was trying to recover from the massive drop in the numbers,” Abdullah said.
Meanwhile, CM Banerjee said, “Kashmir is famous for its spices and dry fruits. I love Kashmir —it is a place very close to my heart. Our tourism department will work jointly with Kashmir. There should be a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two states for tourism and cultural exchange. The people of Kashmir are highly skilled in music, dance, and art.”
She also urged people and artists from the Bengal film industry to shoot movies in the region. “I would like to request people from Tollywood to go and shoot films in Kashmir. During the Puja, I invite the people of Kashmir to visit here. I also invite them to join us during the celebrations of Independence Day and Republic Day,” Mamata Banerjee said.