Union Minister Piyush Goyal took a ‘shikara’ ride on Dal Lake during his visit to Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday.

Goyal shared, “Even my Shikara is named Peace of Heaven. The tranquility I feel when I visit Dal Lake reminds me of my school days. I cherish my childhood memories. God has blessed the country with a paradise.

” Tourism in Jammu and Kashmir suffered after the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2023, which claimed 26 lives on April 23. Goyal praised the local community for their assistance during Operation Sindoor and noted that tourism is on the rise with the commencement of the Amarnath Yatra. The Union Minister stated, “We owe a debt of gratitude to the people of Kashmir for their unwavering support during Operation Sindoor and their resilience against terrorism. Just as we aim to eliminate Naxalism by 2026, I am optimistic that we will together eradicate terrorism from its roots.

” Goyal expressed confidence that tourism in Kashmir will flourish due to the ongoing Amarnath Yatra, which will contribute to economic growth. “With the Amarnath Yatra underway, tourists are also visiting Gulmarg. Many have opted for homestays here. Today, homestays will commence in thousands of homes, boosting their income and enhancing Kashmir’s economy,” he remarked. In Srinagar, the Union Minister also engaged with various delegations and addressed their concerns.

“Today, I met with numerous delegations. Both the state and central governments are collaboratively addressing all their concerns and will enhance the industry and trade here, similar to the Rs 28,000 crore scheme introduced by the Modi government earlier,” Goyal informed . Goyal mentioned his intention to lower GST on handicrafts to 5 percent.

“We have discussed handicrafts with you all. Please provide me with a draft. I will endeavor to reduce the GST to 5 percent to boost handicraft production here. We have also talked about establishing an assembly center, and we will proceed with that as well,” he added.