Share your story and shine at JK Monitor!🌟 Welcome to JK Monitor, where every story matters and every achievement is celebrated! We invite you to share the remarkable journey of your life and showcase your accomplishments to the world. Join our exclusive interviews that honor exceptional individuals just like you. JAMMU: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Raman Suri today said that the transformation witnessed in Jammu Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 is not merely visible in infrastructure and development but also in the region’s emergence as a destination for major national and international events.
Referring to the first International Film Festival of Jammu Kashmir (IFFJK) currently being held from September 7 to 10, Suri said that the hosting of an international film festival in the Valley is a significant indication of the changing perception of Jammu Kashmir. The inaugural festival features films and filmmakers from across the world, with screenings and events being held in Srinagar, Jammu and Gulmarg.
“There was a time when the name of Jammu Kashmir was associated with terrorism, strikes and uncertainty. Today, the same Jammu Kashmir is hosting the G20, international sporting events and now an International Film Festival. This is the real impact of the transformation brought about after the abrogation of Article 370,” Suri said. He credited the Central Government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for creating an environment in which Jammu and Kashmir could increasingly host events of national and international stature.
Suri said the G20 Tourism Working Group meeting in Srinagar in 2023 was a landmark moment that showcased Jammu Kashmir before the international community. The UT administration had made elaborate preparations for the participation of G20 countries and international organisations.
He pointed out that the transformation is also reflected in the sporting arena. Gulmarg has repeatedly hosted the Khelo India Winter Games, while the 2026 edition saw its snow-sports leg held in Gulmarg. The event brought hundreds of athletes and officials to the region and strengthened J&K’s position as a major winter-sports destination. “From G20 to Khelo India Winter Games, international sporting championships, the Kashmir Marathon, water-sports events, cultural programmes and now the International Film Festival, Jammu Kashmir is becoming a venue where India and the world meet,” Suri said.
He also highlighted the hosting of the 3rd Asian Pencak Silat Championship, which saw participation from athletes representing more than a dozen countries, besides various national sporting and cultural events held across the Union Territory. Suri said the International Film Festival has an even deeper significance because cinema has historically been closely associated with Kashmir. “Kashmir once attracted the biggest names of Indian cinema. Militancy pushed the film industry away. Today, the return of cinema through an international festival is a powerful symbol that the Valley is reclaiming its cultural and cinematic identity,” he said.
Raman Suri said the festival, with its international competition, Bharat Panorama, JK Select, documentaries, short films, masterclasses and industry sessions, can give a major boost to tourism, local artists, filmmakers, employment and the creative economy. “The change is not just about roads, tunnels, railways or buildings. It is about changing the confidence of the people and changing the way the world looks at Jammu Kashmir. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a peaceful, prosperous and developed JK is steadily translating into reality,” Suri said.