Jammu and Kashmir National Conference president Dr. Farooq Abdullah on Thursday asserted that the incumbent governor administration has failed to ensure a fruitful tourist season in Kashmir.
“People across the country should come to Kashmir andexperience the hospitality of Kashmiris particularly the house boat communitywhose warmth has left deep impressions on those who stay in our boats,”Farooq said addressing a rally at Nehru Park after touring Dal Lake in ashikara. He made stopovers in the lake at various places and had interactionwith the people.
“It is the houseboat community that has kept the tourismalive in Kashmir with their sheer hospitality and warmth. Staying in ahouseboat is a best option for those who want to experience the thrill ofnature at its best. A peep outside a house boat affords a panoramic view ofmountain and bracing waters of Dal, those who have stayed in a house boat carrythe everlasting and memorable impression on their hearts,” he said.
“When British PM Edward Heath visited Kashmir, herefused to put up in a hotel and preferred to stay in a house boat,” he said.
“Negative propaganda by news channels has severely hittourism sector in Kashmir. Some people who enjoy constitutional positions haveopenly asked people to refrain from visiting Kashmir. Moreover, we didn’t see PM Modi make anappeal to people to visit Kashmir. There was no action on those who indulgedinto a malicious propaganda against Kashmir tourism. Thankfully, we arereceiving good influx of tourists from Malaysia which is a good sign. Situationin the valley is good; perhaps it’s much safer for tourists to roam around inKashmir than in any other part of country,” he said.
“Once in power NC government with Omar Abdullah in thevanguard of it will leave no stone unturned to help the boatmen communitythrive. We will come up with a roadmap for tourism in Kashmir,” he said.
Among others party’s provincial president Nasir Aslam Wani,women’s wing president Shameema Firdous, district president Srinagar Peer Afaq,Shammi Oberoi, political advisor to NCpresident Mushtaq Guroo , YNC provincial president Kashmir Salman Ali Sagar,Er. Sabiya Qadri, Khalid Rathore also accompanied Farooq on his tour to Dal Lake.
Meanwhile, party president, according to NC statement met adeputation of Jammu and Kashmir peace council led by its chairman Fayaz AhmadBhat and general secretary Khursheed Ahmad Malik. The visiting deputationassured party president that they will support all the candidates fielded by theparty for parliamentary elections.
Interacting with a deputation at his residence, Farooq saidthat “the need of the hour is to secure the secular visage of the countryfrom the machinations of BJP-RSS.” “Such forces as are inimical to thestate’s special status are coming forth in hues and colours; these are theforces as have always shown abhorrence for our identity and unity. Today anopportunity is taping our door we should not let it go un-utilized. We have tofree the country and our state from the communal yolk before it is too late.”