Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 8: Condemnations poured in from various quarters over death of 22-year-old boy R Thirumani hailing from Chennai in stone pelting yesterday at Narbal area of Budgam in Kashmir.
Minister for Tourism, Tassaduq Hussain Mufti expressed deep shock over the death of R Thirumani and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family while visiting them in PCR Hospital at Srinagar.
Calling such incidents as an assault on the age-old tradition of Kashmiri hospitality, Mufti called for a public movement against such elements who are hell-bent on snatching the livelihood of lakhs of Kashmiris and bringing disrepute to the whole community.
The Minister requested all stockholders associated with the tourism industry to come forward and become ‘guardians’ of guests so that the true message of peace and warmth goes out from Kashmir.
Expressing grave concern over the tragic incident of stone pelting on tourists in valley and the resultant death of one from among them, BJP National Vice President & J&K Prabhari, Avinash Rai Khanna, has termed the act aimed at harming the economic activities in the summer capital.
“This attack has come at a time when the tourist season is just commencing and all the stakeholders linked with the tourist industry were keenly waiting for the arrival of tourists in large numbers”, Khanna said and added that in wake of the attack and also keeping in view the forthcoming Amarnath Yatra, the Government has to be cautious and instead of soft peddling approach, it must deal with a firm hand with stone pelters. Such incidents also tarnish the image of a common Kashmiri besides shattering the peace in general and affect normal life in particular, he said.
MLA Billawar Dr Nirmal Singh has expressed deep shock and grief over the death of R Thirumani, a tourist from Chennai, in a stone pelting incident at Narbal yesterday.
Dr Singh has conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family and called upon all stakeholders to stand in unison to thwart the nefarious designs of elements hell bent to effect peace in State and its old age tradition of hospitality.
Condemning the death of a 22-year-old tourist, CPI (M) MLA Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami today said such unfortunate incidents damage the interests of the people of the State.
“We express serious concern over the death of a tourist from Chennai due to stone-pelting. Such unfortunate and condemnable incidents send a wrong message which ultimately damages the interests of the people of the State”, Tarigami said.
Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCI) Jammu held a meeting under the chairmanship of its President Rakesh Gupta.
Rakesh Gupta felt extremely agonized over the incident of killing of a tourist in stone pelting.
He stated that crore of rupees being spent by the Government on the road shows to promote tourism have all gone down the drain. He stated that the amnesty given to the stone pelters was a great gesture by both the State as well as Government of India but now needs to be re-looked at.
The other office bearers of CCI present in the meeting include Rajesh Gupta, Senior Vice President, Rajeev Gupta, Junior Vice President, Manish Gupta, Secretary General and Ashu Gupta, Treasurer.
Strongly reacting to the killing of tourist in Kashmir valley by stone pelters, State President, Shri Ram Sena, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajiv Mahajan condemned the incident and said that such incidents are not conducive to the growth of tourism in the Valley.
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