Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 3: Alleging that the Central Government itself created scare by asking pilgrims and tourists to leave Kashmir valley, senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Prof Saifuddin Soz today said that it has no justification.
“While it is true that Kashmir’s security situation cannot be described as normal, the scare that prevails now, was certainly caused by the Government itself,” Prof Soz said in a statement here, this afternoon.
First of all, the Government is itself responsible for deepening the fear-psychosis by requisitioning more and more of Para-forces within the Valley. Then, the government itself issued the advisory, asking the tatris to leave and telling tourists to pack and leave the State. What is the justification for this level of nervousness?,” he asked.
“I think the Governor administration has been ill-advised to take measures to deepen the fear-psychosis, which has visibly led to deterioration in the security situation,” he alleged and said it is really unfortunate that the pilgrims, who were so eager to pay obeisance at the Amarnath cave shrine, have been so hurriedly driven back.
“All these years, the yatra has happened in normal course, very peacefully!
“I have personal knowledge that all these years, the devotees back home narrated stories of help and relief they received at the hands of Kashmiris and that was always the true message from Kashmir. The Government has itself distorted that message. It is very unfortunate!
“It is so tragic that the Government of India has opted for the use of muscle power, although the situation all the time demanded it to be dealt with, by talking imaginatively,” he lamented.
Prof Soz said the State Government will itself realise sooner than later that simpler methods of talking could have yielded better results. But, the people in authority still think that muscle power is needed to keep the Kashmiris frightened! This negative attitude will always be counter-productive!
“I am convinced that the Government will learn lessons but, unfortunately, after causing a lot of damage to the system,” he said.
Follow our WhatsApp channel