Union Culture and Tourism Minister Mahesh Sharma on Wednesday said that a religious shrine in Aksai Chin region of Jammu and Kashmir would have kept “the Chinese at bay” and suggested that “the presence of religious gods in border areas would ensure the country is well protected”.

Aksai Chin, spread over 37,244 sq km in Jammu and Kashmir, is a disputed territory between India and China, presently in occupation of the latter. Sharma, who was speaking at a function to launch the National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY), said, “Had there been a religious shrine in Aksai Chin, China would not have dared eye our territory.”

Addressing the event, Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said 12 heritage cities had been selected by the government under the HRIDAY scheme and the Centre would spend Rs 500 crore over the next two years on “redeveloping” them.

The urban centres to be covered under the project are Varanasi, Amritsar, Ajmer, Mathura, Gaya, Kanchipuram, Vellankani, Badami, Amravati, Warangal, Puri and Dwarka.

“No nation can move forward ignoring its cultural heritage and legacy. India is a diverse land of languages and religions and we need to preserve the legacy of all kinds. HRIDAY is a step towards reviving the soul of cities hosting such rich heritage,” said Naidu. He said the project will be boost for tourism also as we want these heritage cities to be face of the tourism.

The HRIDAY will be dovetailed with the Tourism Ministry’s Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) scheme, which has an outlay of Rs 100 crore for augmentation of infrastructure at pilgrimage sites across the country.

Welcoming the UD Ministry’s move, Sharma said,”Urbanisation is a must but but it should not be at the cost of heritage. We have rich culture and heritage and we have to protect them at any cost.”

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