‘Pahalgam attack left people scared’
Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, Sept 13: National Conference president and former Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah today expressed hope that Jammu and Kashmir would soon regain its Statehood, stressing that nothing ever remains “permanent.”
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Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a golf tournament in Pahalgam, Abdullah said Kashmir’s tourism had been badly hit after the recent Pahalgam attack, but the Government, he said, was making efforts to revive it.
“I am hopeful that Delhi will pay heed to it (demand of Statehood restoration) and the Prime Minister will ensure that the Statehood is restored. I am hopeful that the leaders of the country will address the aspiration of the people of J&K, because the situation has improved in J&K,” Abdullah said.
He added that the Pahalgam attack left people “scared” and efforts are being made to restore confidence among tourists.
“To end this fear, Omar has been to different places to bring back the tourists. He went to Kolkata, met the CM and tour operators, and then Ahmedabad; he has now gone to Chennai to ensure more and more people come here and get that fear away,” he said.
He added that tourism has been hit, and for Kashmir, tourism is important for its economy. “Be it rich or poor, it is important for everyone. People earn in the summer and sustain it in the winter season.”
Abdullah stressed that the aim of the Omar-led Government’s ongoing outreach was to remove fear from the minds of people across India.
“Entire Kashmir stood against the Pahalgam attack. The golf tournament being held at Pahalgam is also aimed at showing people that things are normal and that they should come to Kashmir and enjoy the hospitality of its people. Nothing stays permanent; situations change,” he said.
On the PSA slapped on MLA Doda Mehraj Malik, Abdullah said the action was avoidable.
“Malik is also at fault. The words that he used were unparliamentary; he might have said so in anger, but PSA was not the way. It could have been sorted normally without reaching this extent.”
He noted that he has appealed to the Prime Minister as well as the Home Minister to revoke the PSA against the MLA.
“The MLA also should take back his words. Such things happen in anger, but they should be resolved with love and talks, not force. There is a need for empathy,” he said.
Taking a swipe at political opponents for alleging that the NC was “behind” PSA slapped on MLA Doda, Abdullah said, “Our opponents cannot see anything else. They have been irritated by the NC right from the beginning. Many of these leaders are sitting in the lap of Delhi. They are not working in the interest of people, but their own.”
Abdullah also flagged the rising menace of drugs in Kashmir, saying it cannot be fought by the Government alone. “People have to play their role. They know who is involved, because those selling drugs are from among us,” he said.
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