The recent horrific terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed over 26 tourist lives – mainly Hindus, has once again brought Kashmir to a painful crossroads. But beyond the immediate tragedy lies a deeper, more insidious narrative battle—one where Kashmir’s economic renaissance through tourism is being deliberately framed as “colonization” by those who benefited from its isolation -the radical Islamists.

The Tourism Boom: Revival Or “Invasion”?

Since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, Kashmir has experienced an unprecedented tourism surge—from fewer than 831,000 visitors in 2018 to a record-breaking 34.98 lakh visitors in 2024. Hotels at capacity, thriving homestays, and bustling markets had finally begun healing Kashmir’s conflict-scarred economy. For ordinary Kashmiris dependent on tourism—taxi drivers, shopkeepers, hoteliers, and artisans—this represented not invasion but survival and a decent living.

Yet curiously, as the valley prospered, a chorus of voices began characterizing this economic lifeline as “cultural invasion” and “settler colonialism.”

The “Colonisation” Rhetoric: Manufactured Victimhood For Separatists

The idea that Kashmir is being “colonised” by Indians—particularly Hindus—hinges on a simple but poisonous assumption: that Islam is the inherent nature of Kashmir, Kashmir does not belong to India, and Indians are foreign to Kashmir.

This is the core logic behind every tweet, every op-ed, and every seminar that calls tourism a threat. It is the same logic that once justified ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri Pandits. It’s the same mindset that legitimized stone pelting, supported “Azadi” sloganeering, and glorified Burhan Wani as a “rebel” rather than a terrorist.

When people call Hindu tourists visiting Kashmir and Hindus moving to Kashmir for business as “colonisation,” they are not being clever—they are revealing the very supremacist mindset that views the Valley as an exclusive Islamist ethno-theocracy.

The Architects of the “Colonization” Narrative

This framing didn’t emerge spontaneously. It has been carefully cultivated by four distinct but overlapping groups:

Separatist Sympathizers: Those who once provided intellectual cover for separatism now repackage their ideology in academic post-colonial jargon. When Maktoob Media’s Rida Fathima describes tourism as “a colonial ploy” and accuses Indian tourists of participating in “occupation,” she’s recycling separatist propaganda in scholarly language.

Local Political Elites: Politicians like Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi, who characterized tourism as a “cultural invasion,” represent those who thrived under Article 370’s protection. The abrogation stripped away their extraordinary powers and privileges. Their opposition isn’t about protecting Kashmiri culture but preserving political fiefdoms.

Sit down, Ruhullah. https://t.co/Bqm2dU3cDT pic.twitter.com/Weyt4XA2uU

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) April 22, 2025

National Political Elites

Barely months after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched his campaign for the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly elections with a promise to “restore statehood” and “empower the people,” terrorists struck in the heart of the Kashmir Valley. Rahul Gandhi should be held accountable for mainstreaming this political rhetoric amid a fragile security environment.

Rahul Gandhi, who addressed back-to-back rallies in Ramban and Anantnag in September 2024, claimed that Jammu and Kashmir is under the rule of a “king” — referring to the Lieutenant Governor — and promised to roll back the current Union Territory status. He framed the removal of Article 370 and the reorganization of J&K as an affront to democracy, ignoring the fact that these measures have led to a significant drop in terror-related incidents over the past five years.

In his 4 September 2024 speech, Gandhi accused the BJP government of “snatching wealth from Kashmiris and giving it to outsiders.” He said, “Not just has your state been snatched away, your rights, your wealth, everything is being snatched away from you. In 1947, we removed Rajas and made a democratic government. We gave Constitution to the country. Today in Jammu Kashmir, there’s a Raja sitting and his name is LG, but he is a Raja. And your wealth is being snatched away from you and given to outsiders. Be it contracts, all the benefits are being enjoyed by outsiders and is being snatched away from Jammu Kashmir people.

On 23 September 2024, he said, “And what was yours, first ‘your’ government used to take decisions, the decisions that were taken in ‘your’ interest, the decisions that were taken in consideration of ‘your’ future, today, ‘people from outside’ are taking decisions. ‘You’ don’t have a voice in running ‘your’government. ‘Your’ government runs from Delhi.”

This rhetoric, critics argue, stokes regional resentment and revives the us-vs-them language that Pakistan-backed terror networks exploit.

This week’s terror strike in Pahalgam reminds the nation of what is at stake. By aggressively championing the rollback of central authority and aligning with parties like the National Conference, which have a long and complicated history with separatist narratives, Rahul Gandhi had effectively signaled to hostile actors — both domestic and cross-border — that a political window may be opening.

Urban “Intellectuals”: Media figures and academics who built careers as Kashmir’s “interpreters” find themselves increasingly irrelevant as the region integrates with mainstream India. Their carefully constructed narratives of perpetual victimhood collapse when Kashmiris prosper under Indian administration.

Radical Islamists: Groups like the self-proclaimed “Kashmir Resistance,” which claimed responsibility for the Pahalgam attack, openly declare war against “outsiders,” revealing the religious exclusivity underlying this rhetoric.

Decoding The Strategy

The “colonization” narrative serves multiple strategic purposes:

First, it delegitimizes economic development. By portraying tourists not as visitors but as invaders, and development not as progress but as erasure, it attempts to make ordinary Kashmiris reject prosperity itself.

Second, it maintains the separatist ecosystem. When a Kashmiri hotelier welcomes Hindu pilgrims, or a shopkeeper befriends Gujarati tourists, the barriers of otherness essential to separatist ideology begin crumbling. Cultural exchange threatens those who profit from division. Add to this the popularity of Hindu shrines in the region – one video circulating on social media shows a lay Muslim calling “idol worship a bigger sin” according to their god when compared to heinous crimes like rape.

Muslims for you pic.twitter.com/1sL656SK5U

— Squint Neon (@TheSquind) April 22, 2025

Third, it provides moral cover for violence. By framing tourists as agents of occupation, it rationalizes attacks like Pahalgam as “resistance” rather than terrorism.

Islamists: The Real Colonizers

Before Article 370 was abrogated in 2019, Kashmir was ruled by a political class that actively excluded Indian laws, stifled women’s rights, blocked land reforms, prevented progressive Indian laws from applying to Kashmir, and redirected development funds into personal coffers while violently suppressed dissenting voices—from Kashmiri Pandits to Balti Shias. These parties treated Kashmir like their fiefdom, while urban elites in Delhi and foreign-funded NGOs provided intellectual cover for this separatism.

This was the real colonisation: the ghettoisation of an Indian state under a religious-political elite that turned the Valley into a hotbed of Wahhabi radicalism.

Where was this outrage when thousands of Kashmiri Pandits were driven out in 1990 with slogans like “raliv, galiv ya chaliv”? Where were the cries of “occupation” then? Why did it take until 2020 for so-called secularists to discover their love for the Kashmiri street vendor, but only when Hindus began returning?

Kashmiri Hindus were the original inhabitants of Kashmir while the invaders were the Islamist Mughals who colonized the region, grew in number, and ultimately threw out the Hindus. Now they cry “colonization”?

What’s Really At Stake

What’s being defended isn’t Kashmiri culture but a political system that enables terrorism that thrives on Kashmir’s isolation. The real fear isn’t cultural erasure but cultural exchange—the possibility that Kashmiris and other Indians might discover their shared humanity through daily interactions.

Kashmir’s development threatens those who need perpetual crisis. A prosperous, peaceful Kashmir renders obsolete the entire intellectual and political infrastructure built around its “special status.” It undermines those who positioned themselves as intermediaries between Kashmir and India and dismantles the grievance industry that provided comfortable careers for many.

The Way Forward

The path ahead must recognize this narrative manipulation for what it is—not a legitimate cultural concern but a calculated strategy. Development and tourism aren’t perfect solutions to Kashmir’s complex challenges, but they create spaces where ordinary Kashmiris can build economic autonomy and engage with India on their own terms, without self-appointed mediators.

True respect for Kashmiri identity comes not from isolation but from enabling Kashmiris to participate fully in India’s economic and cultural life while preserving their unique heritage. This doesn’t require Article 370’s discriminatory provisions but inclusive policies that recognize Kashmir’s distinct character while enabling its full integration.

The greatest threat to those peddling the “colonization” narrative isn’t India’s heavy hand but its open palm – welcoming Kashmir to prosperity rather than perpetual conflict. And that is precisely why they fight so desperately against it.

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The post Who Fears A Thriving Kashmir? The Truth Behind The “Cultural Invasion” Propaganda appeared first on The Commune.

Domestic tourist visits across the country increased by 44 per cent to 250 crore in 2023 over the previous year with Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu leading the list as the top two destinations, the Parliament was informed on Monday.

Minister of Tourism and Culture, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, in a written reply in Lok Sabha on Monday said that 250.96 crore domestic tourist visits were recorded in 2023 as compared to 173.10 crore in 2022.

Home to one of the ‘Wonders of the world’, Taj Mahal, Uttar Pradesh emerged as the most visited state by domestic tourists at 47.85 crore in 2023. This was followed by Tamil Nadu with 28.60 crore, Karnataka 28.41 crore, Andhra Pradesh 25.47 crore, Maharashtra 16.13 crore and Gujarat 17.80 crore. In 2023, the national Capital of Delhi received 3.94 crore tourists.

Among the hill states, Uttarakhand recorded the highest number of domestic tourist visits at 5.81 crore. Jammu and Kashmir recorded 2.06 crore and Himachal Pradesh received 1.59 crore tourists.

The desert state of Rajasthan hosted 17.90 crore domestic tourists in 2023, the minister said. The Ministry of Tourism launched the ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ initiative in January 2020 for promotion of domestic tourism in the country.

Under this initiative, the Ministry promotes tourism destinations and products of India through various activities such as webinars, pledges, seminars, tourism promotional events, Fam tours, roadshows, websites, social media etc.

Under this initiative, the ministry has launched ‘Dekho Apna Desh People’s Choice’ poll to engage with citizens to identify most preferred tourist attractions in the country.

The Ministry of Tourism has launched the revamped version of www.incredibleindia.gov.in, wherein information pertaining to various tour programmes and package tours are being provided in collaboration with stakeholders.

Increased domestic tourist visits to various destinations, under this initiative, are expected to boost local economies, create employment opportunities, and support hospitality services, thereby promoting sustainable tourism growth.

–IANS

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The post 44% Rise In Domestic Tourism In 2023; UP, TN Top Two Destinations appeared first on The Commune.

Tourism in Goa, once India’s prime beach destination, is reeling under pressures that threaten its status as a tourist haven. In 2023, visitors—particularly international travelers—have been opting for alternative destinations like Sri Lanka. The root cause? A myriad of grievances, with the local taxi mafias taking center stage, alongside high costs, inadequate infrastructure, and government oversight.

The visitor data tells a grim story. Goa saw a record 7.1 million domestic visitors in 2019. In 2022, it bounced back to around 7 million after a pandemic-induced dip in 2021, when visitor numbers hit a low of 3.3 million. Yet, foreign tourists, particularly Russians and Britons who used to flock to Goa annually, are now choosing Sri Lanka over Goa, disappointed by their recent experiences.

Tourism in Goa is down in dumps

Foreign tourists have abandoned the state already. Look at 2019 v 2023 numbers. Russians and Brits who used to visit annually have opted for Sri Lanka instead.

Indian tourists still visiting, but soon likely to ditch it as word spreads about… pic.twitter.com/RF2TLC2Zvi

— Ramanuj Mukherjee (@law_ninja) November 5, 2024

The Goa Taxi Mafia Issue: Tourists’ Anger and Frustration

One of the biggest grievances among tourists is the stranglehold of Goa’s “taxi mafia.” This unregulated network of taxi drivers often charges exorbitant rates, with local drivers allegedly threatening and intimidating tourists and even locals who attempt to circumvent their services. Instances of aggressive confrontations have left visitors feeling unsafe. One German tourist, accompanied by a local Goan friend, reportedly faced intimidation from more than ten drivers, only to end up paying ₹1800 for a mere 37 km ride. Stories like these circulate widely, fueling distrust and resentment among tourists.

Goa’s taxi mafia is responsible for it. 100%

I went to pick up a friend (from Germany) from Benaulim Beach and I was accompanied by another friend (a local Goan). A taxi guy (in Benaulim) saw us, he stopped us and in no time there were 10+ taxi drivers ready to beat us up. The… https://t.co/V43IsQXBm9

— Madhur (@ThePlacardGuy) November 5, 2024

High Costs, Poor Infrastructure, and a Declining Experience

Beyond the issue of transport, tourists are increasingly frustrated with the high costs of hotels, food, and services in Goa. Despite these costs, the infrastructure remains subpar, especially when compared to international beach destinations like Phuket, Thailand. For many visitors, Goa’s roads, public facilities, and environmental upkeep do not justify the price. North Goa, in particular, has seen a marked decline, with beaches like Anjuna becoming overcrowded, loud, and littered, which has disenchanted visitors seeking a serene beach experience.

Reason is very clear: Goa is not cheap, has the worst infrastructure of any of the international beach destinations I have visited. Phuket, is cheaper than Goa & has much better infrastructure. pic.twitter.com/VYkw0necwE

— Sandeep Neel (@SanUvacha) November 5, 2024

Let's admit and acknowledge the reasons:
1)Goa Taxi Mafia
2)Rude-Arrogant-Violent Goans
3)State's inefficiency in assuring touristy convenience for visitors
4)Some pockets going extreme on immorality
5)Govt cracking down on drugs, crucial factor in disappointing foreign tourists https://t.co/QxHvMkxTbk

— AnuP (@anupsjaiswal) November 6, 2024

While the Goa government has taken steps to regulate certain activities, like cracking down on drugs, these measures have also had unintended consequences. Many foreign tourists, once drawn by Goa’s relaxed atmosphere, now find themselves deterred by increased restrictions. Added to this, the government’s inability to manage key sectors—especially transportation—has exacerbated the problem. There is widespread demand to introduce app-based services like Ola and Uber in South Goa to end the monopoly of the taxi mafia and offer fair pricing and safer options.

https://twitter.com/kpartha/status/1853790080936136880

As Goa’s reputation deteriorates, tourists are increasingly looking to other beach destinations in South Asia, where they feel they get better value and a friendlier experience. If solutions to Goa’s systemic problems are not found soon, the “taxi mafia” and other issues may indeed sound the death knell for tourism in this once-vibrant paradise.

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The post Go Goa Gone: Local Taxi Mafias Sounding A Death Knell To Tourism In Goa, Foreign Tourists At Record Low appeared first on The Commune.

Haryana Heritage and Tourism Minister Arvind Kumar Sharma said on Tuesday that Mahabharata-linked historical pilgrimage sites in Kurukshetra and surrounding districts would be developed as key tourism destinations. In this regard, officials from the Union Ministry of Tourism and the state Tourism Department were working together in a coordinated manner.

Minister Sharma informed this after attending the Second Mahabharata Circuit Conference, held in Karnal. To promote tourism, the Union Ministry of Tourism (Northern Region) organised the conference to discuss the development of historical and ancient pilgrimage sites related to the Mahabharata in the mythological and religious region of Kurukshetra and its neighbouring districts. The conference was held at the Karna Lake Banquet Hall in Karnal, where a familiarisation tour was also conducted. Minister Sharma attended the event as the chief guest. During the programme, he engaged in detailed discussions with officials from the Union Ministry of Tourism, the state Tourism Department and various tourism stakeholders and service providers.

He also released a book detailing the proceedings of the Second Mahabharata Circuit Conference, which highlights the significance of Kurukshetra. He said just as Vrindavan attracts thousands of devotees and tourists, similar facilities would be developed in Kurukshetra to accommodate a larger number of visitors. The minister also proposed that alongside Kurukshetra, the towns of Karnal and Kala Amb in Panipat should be included in the Mahabharata circuit, as these areas also receive a significant influx of tourists.

He said under the leadership of Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, the state government is working on the development of major tourist destinations across the state. These efforts are aimed at enhancing infrastructure and providing better amenities to visitors in the coming years. Regional Director (North) of the Union Ministry of Tourism, R. K. Suman, said the ministry is committed to bringing Kurukshetra to the global stage and has already made significant strides in this mission.

–IANS

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The post Mahabharata-Linked Sites In Kurukshetra Will Be Developed: Haryana Minister appeared first on The Commune.

VnExpress reported on Wednesday, citing the online travel agency Agoda, that global searches for travel to Vietnam saw a big jump from July to September.

Searches for travel to Vietnam rose 4 percent in July year over year, and there was a 31 percent surge in August.

According to Agoda, September saw a dramatic 84 per cent spike as travellers globally began planning for Christmas and New Year holidays.

According to the country’s General Statistics Office, Vietnam recorded over 12.7 million international arrivals in the first nine months of 2024, an increase of 43 per cent year over year.

The Southeast Asian country is determined to attract 17 million to 18 million international visitors this year, as the last three months are the peak season for international arrivals in Vietnam.

–IANS

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The X handle of Kerala Congress recently stirred controversy by questioning travel aggregator Ease My Trip over the “resumption” of booking to the Maldives.

The post said, “Couple of months ago online travel aggregator @EaseMyTrip made a nationalistic move by removing Maldives as a destination from their flight and hotel booking platform to support Modi. Now they have quietly resumed booking to Maldives. We are wondering what happened. Is it a sign of something? Is money more important than Modi? Money will come and go, so is Modi!”

Couple of months ago online travel aggregator @EaseMyTrip made a nationalistic move by removing Maldives as a destination from their flight and hotel booking platform to support Modi.

Now they have quietly resumed booking to Maldives. We are wondering what happened.

Is it a… pic.twitter.com/YPrdSRBVjR

— Congress Kerala (@INCKerala) June 1, 2024

Following the diplomatic issue that arose over “offensive” social media posts by three Maldivian deputy ministers between India and the Maldives in January this year, EaseMyTrip decided to suspend bookings to the Maldives after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Lakshadweep. Relations between the two countries have been at an all-time low under the presidency of Mohamed Muizzu, the current Maldivian President, who is widely viewed in New Delhi as a “pro-China” figure.

In response to Kerala Congress’s post, EaseMyTrip’s CEO Nishant Pitti replied, “Dear @INCIndia, thank you for your concern. @EaseMyTrip has halted Maldives bookings from January 8th until today. Some bookings did occur between May 16th – 26th, but we took immediate action and got them removed. Why focus only on us? Are you not aware of other Chinese-owned travel portals that never stopped promoting Maldives in the first place? We’ve been serving for the last 16 years without any foreign investments. Yes, you’re right, nothing is permanent—the money will come and go. But our nationalistic approach will never change. By the way, we are here for the long haul, and it’s not easy for us to go. Hope you understand“

Dear @INCIndia, thank you for your concern. @EaseMyTrip has halted Maldives bookings from January 8th until today. Some bookings did occur between May 16th – 26th, but we took immediate action and got them removed.

Why focus only on us? Are you not aware of other Chinese-owned… https://t.co/0NrHtoEIxy

— Nishant Pitti (@nishantpitti) June 1, 2024

The decision to suspend flight bookings to the Maldives in solidarity with the government affected 240,000 annual bookings on EaseMyTrip’s platform. Co-founder Prashant Pitti mentioned that bookings had seen a notable 40% increase last year compared to the previous year.

#WATCH | Bengaluru: Co-founder of EaseMyTrip, Prashant Pitti says, "…Our company is entirely homegrown and made in India. Amid the row over Maldives MP's post on PM Modi's visit to Lakshadweep, we have decided that we will not accept any bookings for Maldives…We want Ayodhya… pic.twitter.com/99EQ0kxGZM

— ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2024

Despite the boycott, EaseMyTrip recently announced its highest-ever EBITDA for the fiscal year 2024, totalling ₹2,282 million, which represents a 19% growth year-on-year.

After taking nationalist stand on the Maldives issue

Ease my trip shares up +14% in 2 days
Make my trip shares down -2% pic.twitter.com/tRpEkNlUag

— STAR Boy TARUN (@Starboy2079) January 9, 2024

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The e-pass system came into force in Kodaikanal Dindigul district from 7 May 2024. All vehicles, including tourist vehicles, are allowed only after checking through the QR codes.

Usually Kodaikanal continues to see an increase in tourist arrivals ahead of the summer season and Traffic jams will caused by excessive number of vehicles during such seasons. To avoid this, the Madras High Court has ordered the implementation of e-pass system for tourists to visit Kodaikanal from May 7 to June 30. Following this order, guidelines for obtaining e-pass were published at epass.tnega.org.

With the introduction of e-pass to Ooty and Kodaikanal, the number of tourists has slowly decreased. Tourists started to cancel their bookings in cottages and lodges. The influx of tourists in vehicles to Ooty and Kodaikanal has dropped and the roads were free. On the other hand, the number of tourists who flocked was less at the tourist spots. This sudden introduction of e-pass mandatory has made the tourists dissatisfied.

Kodaikanal residents, who typically rely on income generated from tourism, are experiencing dissatisfaction due to recent e-pass system, they allege Kodaikanal usually visited by tens of thousands of people per day during the summer season holidays. However, only around 28,168 tourists came. Traders said that this is 25 percent less than the usual arrival, and around 5,000 to 10,000 tourists have been affected. However, there is significant opposition, with various parties, including Kodaikanal residents, strongly protesting the implementation of the e-pass system. Calls to retract the system are growing louder.

A Muslim female street vendor in Kodaikanal, addressing the media, expressed her sorrow, “We’re having a store here for 14 years and in 14 years we’ve never seen a bad season like this. After you’ve declared election, no crowd comes, after that on 7th you say that e-pass is mandatory , even if 1000 vehicles we poor people will (cherish), I’m sick, I can’t go to work. In times like this, if we do business for 200 rupees from morning, how to pay school fees, how to pay loan, we all have bought EMI, taken loan, paying loan monthly. can’t pay loan, you can’t eat even if you want to purchase meat. We think that in this kind of season we can earn ten rupees and save it… You say that Kodaikanal is visited by more tourists, today Kodaikanal should be declared as a non-tourist town”

இ-பாஸ் காரணமாக கூட்ட நெரிசலின்றி வெறிச்சோடி காணப்படும் கொடைக்கானல் மலைச்சாலைகள் – உள்ளூர் மக்களின் கருத்து#Dindigul | #Kodaikanal | #EPass | #Tourist | #PolimerNews pic.twitter.com/SZnwVlHS3U

— Polimer News (@polimernews) May 8, 2024

In response to calm the situation, the Tamil Nadu government has provided clarification, asserting that the operation of issuing e-passes will not disrupt or pose any threat to tourists. Furthermore, the government assures that the public will not face any inconvenience due to the approval of e-passes.

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The post “We’ve Never Seen A Bad Season Like This In 14 Years”: TN Govt’s E-Pass System For Ooty And Kodaikanal Hits Small Business Owners & Vendors Hard appeared first on The Commune.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, accompanied by his family, embarked on a six-day summer vacation to Kodaikanal on 29 April 2024.

Since it was a private visit, no visitors or party members were permitted to meet him. More than 200 police officers were stationed at Madurai airport in anticipation of the CM’s arrival. Stalin and his family then traveled to Kodaikanal via the Batlagundu road and are staying at The Tamara Resort on St. Mary’s Road. Approximately 1500 police personnel have been deployed to ensure their security. Additionally, the flying of drones and balloons has been prohibited in the district until 4 May 2024. The Chief Minister is scheduled to remain in Kodaikanal until 4 May 2024.

Critique Surrounding Stalin’s Trip To Kodaikanal

Since the arrest of former DMK functionary and alleged international drug trafficker Jaffer Sadiq, Tamil Nadu has witnessed a noticeable uptick in drug seizures and the prevalence of drug abuse among its youth, including substances like ganja, drug pills, etc. Concurrently, instances of intoxicated individuals committing acts of violence against both the public and government officials have also been on the rise. Amidst this, netizens directed their criticism towards Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin. This criticism intensified when, as the CM was departing from Madurai Airport, BJP member Shankar Pandian attempted to present a petition and a packet of ganja to Stalin, seemingly as a form of protest against his visit to Kodaikanal. However, Pandian was promptly detained by the police and taken to the Avaniyapuram police station for further questioning.

In his petition, Pandian purportedly expressed concern about widespread drug use in the state, including the availability of internationally prohibited drugs. He highlighted the negative impact of drug addiction on youth, including students, children, and daily wage laborers, and urged Chief Minister Stalin to take action to combat drug use and trafficking in Tamil Nadu.

Another concern that stakeholders in the tourism industry expressed was that the Chief Minister’s visit to Kodaikanal during peak tourist season could potentially slow down tourism. Robin, president of the Tourist Guides Association in Kodaikanal, noted that the hill station attracts tourists seeking relief from the summer heat in the plains, especially when outdoor spaces are crowded. He mentioned that some tourists rushed to leave hotels on 28 April 2024, anticipating new restrictions due to the CM’s visit.

It is reported that routes leading to Kodaikanal through the plains will be closed from 8 AM to 1 PM. With a significant influx of tourists from Kerala following the conclusion of the general election, there is increased congestion in the area. Suggestions have been made to open alternative routes, including one from Munnar, Kerala, to alleviate traffic congestion.

The netizens also began circulating former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi’s critique of former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, “Stomach hurts; Intestines burn; Is Kodanadu Necessary?” 

கும்பி எரியுது; குடல் கருகுது; கோடநாடு ஒரு கேடா?

Read: https://t.co/oXAuZ51J6b

— KalaignarKarunanidhi (@kalaignar89) October 20, 2015

This criticism, originally aimed at ridiculing Jayalalithaa, drawing attention to rising prices of pulses when Karunanidhi served as opposition leader, is now being repurposed by netizens to mock current Chief Minister MK Stalin.

கும்பி எரியுது,குடல் கருகுது, கொடைக்கானல் ஒரு கேடா?
@arivalayam https://t.co/XFj8xKbogD

— Krishnaraj.K (@KrishnarajK19) April 29, 2024

https://twitter.com/RKCHOLANADU/status/1784881107051454760

https://t.co/BHjs27M3eY

— Bagavath Pratheep (@Bagavathprathee) April 29, 2024

https://twitter.com/PMKSilamparasan/status/1785162716937945548

pic.twitter.com/sbWJ78xlz7

— கோட்டைப்பட்டி கவுண்டர் (@neroboy12345) April 30, 2024

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The post “Stomach Hurts, Intestines Burn; Is Kodaikanal Necessary?” Netizens Troll MK Stalin Along The Lines Of His Father Karunanidhi appeared first on The Commune.

The Northern Region Office of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, orchestrated a Conference focusing on the Mahabharat Circuit, followed by a Familiarization Trip to Kurukshetra, Jyotisar, and Thanesar on 10th January 2024. The event drew a diverse assembly of participants from across the country, including Tour Operators, travel media representatives, opinion leaders, influencers, and officials from the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, Haryana Tourism Department, and local administration.

The primary objective was to raise awareness about the tourism potential and religious significance of the region. Discussions during the conference encompassed various aspects such as infrastructure, accommodation, tourist facilities, visitor influx, Travel and Tourism Sustainability, Responsible Tourism, community involvement, and the training of service providers for the region’s promotion and marketing.

Taking place on January 9, 2024, the Conference aimed to explore, promote, and spotlight Kurukshetra and Mahabharat-related sites as preferred tourist destinations for both domestic and international visitors. Manisha Saxena, Director General of the Ministry of Tourism GOI, addressed the delegates virtually, emphasizing that Mahabharat is not just an epic but a way of life. She highlighted the significant developments in infrastructure and facilities in collaboration with Haryana Tourism, including the establishment of a Light & Sound Show and a museum at Jyotisar.

Delegates from private tourism operators and ISKCON spoke at the event, underscoring the importance and potential of Kurukshetra.

Swadesh Darshan Scheme

The circuit tours are part of the Swadesh Darshan scheme launched by the Ministry of Tourism in 2014-15. Under the original Swadesh Darshan scheme, 15 theme-based circuits were launched. A Tourist Circuit is characterized as a path connecting a minimum of three prominent tourist destinations, in different towns, villages, or cities, without being separated by considerable distances. These circuits must feature clearly defined entry and exit points to encourage visitors to explore the majority of the identified places within the circuit.

In contrast, Theme-based Tourist Circuits revolve around specific themes, such as religion, culture, ethnicity, niche interests, and more. These themed circuits can be limited to a single state, or may extend to cover a regional circuit spanning multiple states or Union territories.

Swadesh Darshan 2.0 was launched in 2023, shifting the focus from circuit tours to resonate more with the PMs vision of ‘vocal for local’ to attract domestic tourists. More details on Swadesh Darshan 2.0 can be found here and here.

With inputs from PIB

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The post PM Modi’s ‘Vocal For Local’ Gets A Boost With The Launch Of Mahabharat Circuit Tour appeared first on The Commune.

PM Modi made a visit to Lakshadweep on 04 January 2024 and social media has gone berserk with various theories and conspiracies. Although, PM Modi does not say anything explicitly, his actions speak more than his words and for this reason, his visit to the Lakshadweep islands has become a subject of intense debates and discussions.

Unlike the previous PM Rajiv Gandhi who utilised the islands as his own party grounds, PM Modi used this trip to showcase the surreal beauty of Lakshadweep as well as to reach out to the majority Muslim population in the islands.

Focusing On Lakshadweep

Historically, Maldives has been a friendly nation to India. In fact, India was one of the first few nations to recognise Maldives’ independence from the British. Both nations have intrinsically developed close strategic, military, economic and cultural relations. There have been good bilateral trade agreements between the countries as well. India brought Maldives into its security net in 2009, when there was a tip that one of the island resorts could be taken over by terrorists. When there was regime change in the Maldives in 2022, the new president Mohamed Muizzu requested India to withdraw its military presence. Finally, in December 2023, India agreed to withdraw its military forces. It has been alleged that China and Muizzu’s party enjoy good relationship and the new antagonistic measures of the Muizzu’s party might be influenced by the Eastern nation. Also, it is reported that 10 islands in the Maldives have been leased to China, and they are stationing ships there to conduct large scale military operations. More measures like free trade agreement between the two nations show how close they are getting together. China’s presence in the Maldives will be a definite threat to India, so naturally, as a countermeasure India will like to strengthen their military presence in Lakshadweep.

Reactions To The Visit

Ever since PM Modi’s visit, social media has been abuzz about Lakshadweep and Maldives. PM Modi did not utter a word about the Maldives during his visit, but the message was picked up by prominent political analysts and media houses. #BoycottMaldives #Maldives, #Maldivian, #Lakshadweep have been trending on X for two consecutive days. Google Trends showed ‘Lakshadweep tour’ and Lakshadweep packages’ were top trending keywords even on 06 January 2024. Retorting to these trends, prominent handles from the Maldives government have been posting on X about Maldives tourism, which were, at best, borderline abusive.

Mariyam Shiuna, Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Information and Arts, posted on X calling PM Modi as a ‘clown’ and ‘puppet of Israel’ which enraged Indian netizens and eventually, she had to delete the post after massive backlash. This happened the day after Zahid Rameez, a council member of the ruling party of the Maldives, mocked Indians tend to leave behind ‘a permanent smell’ in the rooms. Interestingly, in June 2023 the same person was requesting for Indian citizenship since he was born in Madras (sic).

Zahid Rameez is a citizen of Maldives. In June 2023, he was begging for Indian citizenship on account of being born in Madras, India.

In January 2024, he is saying Indians are smelly & can't compete with Maldives.

Modi's #Lakshadweep visit has rattled these Chinese puppets. pic.twitter.com/6guVHeiK6y

— Incognito (@Incognito_qfs) January 6, 2024

Maldivian Govt Faces The Heat

India has formally communicated its objections to the Maldivian government regarding offensive statements attributed to Mariyam Shiuna, a current minister in the Maldives. These comments were directed at India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.  While Shiuna has removed her tweets, this situation has ignited a diplomatic dispute between the neighboring nations.

Following the escalating tensions on social media, the Maldives Government suspended Minister Mariyam Shiuna, Malsha and Hassan Zihan for their derogatory remarks made on PM Modi and India.

Not just that. The Maldivian government spokesperson confirmed that “All government officials responsible for the comments have been suspended from their post effective immediately“.

Earlier, the Government of Maldives released a statement distancing itself from the comments made by its Ministers.

“Government of Maldives is aware of derogatory remarks on social media platforms against foreign leaders and high-ranking individuals. These opinions are personal and do not represent the views of the Government of Maldives says Maldives Foreign Ministry.“, it said.

Meanwhile the Opposition in the island nation has caught the incumbent in a fix lashing out at the irresponsible comments made by the Ministers.

Abdulla Shahid, the former Foreign Minister of Maldives wrote “Derogatory remarks made by 2 Deputy Ministers of the current Maldives Government, and a member of a political party in the ruling coalition, towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the people of India on social media is reprehensible and odious.”

Derogatory remarks made by 2 Deputy Ministers of the current #Maldives Government, and a member of a political party in the ruling coalition, towards Prime Minister @narendramodi and the people of India on social media is reprehensible and odious.

I call on the Government to… pic.twitter.com/kCjEyg4yjb

— Abdulla Shahid (@abdulla_shahid) January 7, 2024

Other members of the Maldivian Opposition to slammed the Government.

We established the Maldives tourism industry based on the principles of hospitality, tolerance, peace, and harmony. Through strategic positioning and collaborations with global brands and investments, including those from India, we have successfully positioned Maldives as a…

— Ahmed Adeeb (@Ahmed_Adeeb) January 7, 2024

Earlier in the day, the Maldives government websites were inaccessible. It seems that the Maldivian government either implemented a firewall or temporarily restricted access to their website specifically for users accessing it from Indian IP addresses.

Maldives foreign ministry website not available from India:
-Looks like Maldives govt has put a firewall or temporarily blocked access to their website from Indian IPs
-Development post outage seen yesterday of Maldives websites. Govt hasn't confirmed if it was cyber attack. pic.twitter.com/3a553qOCFW

— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) January 7, 2024

Chinese-Friendly Government Shoots Itself In The Foot

The incumbent government in Maldives is considered pro-China and its Prime Minister Mohamed Muizzu was instrumental in the Get Out India campaign. He had wanted all Indian troops stationed in Maldives to be removed.

Travel and tourism plays a huge part in the Maldives’ economy. Data shows that in the year 2019 the contribution of travel and tourism to GDP (% of GDP) was 66.1%. The tourism industry took a massive hit during COVID in 2020, and when the restrictions were lifted off, Indians emerged as the biggest international tourists in the island country, accounting for 11.3% of the total market share. As the new President Mohamed Muizzu is travelling to Beijing to meet the Chinese Premier Xi Jinping, Modi has strategically placed his ‘tourism’ visit to deliver his subtle message to the new President of the Maldives. The future holds the key in seeing how the relationship between the Maldives, India and China develop and transform.

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The post Maldivian Meltdown: How One Visit Of PM Modi To Lakshadweep And The Loose Fingers Of Maldivian Ministers Has Plunged The Island Nation In Trouble appeared first on The Commune.