Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar stated on Tuesday that any Indian can now visit Jammu and Kashmir without fear. His comment came in response to Congress leader Sushilkumar Shinde's remark that during his tenure as Union Home Minister, even he felt scared while visiting Srinagar's Lal Chowk.

Ajit Pawar emphasised on the frequent visits to the region by national leaders, including the prime minister (PM) and home minister, while speaking about the change in the Valley. "After the Pulwama terror attack, the government didn’t just watch but took strong countermeasures. The people appreciated it. Now, as elections approach, anyone can visit Kashmir without fear," Pawar said.