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Updated August 3rd, 2019 at 17:05 IST

J&K: Omar Abdullah worries about 'tourism industry' setback in the state amid security advisory issued by govt

Amid the ambiguity over Kashmir and the security advisory issued by the government, NC leader Omar Abdullah raised his concerns over the situation affecting the 'tourism industry' in the state. 

Reported by: Aishwaria Sonavane
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Amid the ambiguity over Kashmir and the security advisory issued by the government, NC leader Omar Abdullah raised his concerns over the situation affecting the 'tourism industry' in the state. 

Responding to the United Kingdom's advisory for their citizens traveling to Jammu and Kashmir, the former chief minister of the state said that it takes ' years of effort to have these travel advisories diluted' 

Furthermore narrated how he witnessed 3 foreign tourists changing their mind about a trip to the valley, subsequent to the government's order. 

READ| Jaish-e-Mohammad Mobilising Cadre Near PoK LoC, Masood Azhar's Brother & 15 JeM Terrorists Waiting To Infiltrate Kashmir: Sources

 

The UK government issued an advisory for tourists seeking to travel to Jammu and Kashmir:

The Abdullah scion addressed a media briefing on Saturday after meeting with the state's Governor Satya Pal Malik to gain clarity on the fast-paced and unprecedented developments that have been witnessed in the last few days, particularly on Friday when the Amarnath Yatra was curtailed just hours after the Indian Army exposed the Pakistan Army's backing to terror groups and their plot to target yatris. 

Omar Abdullah and his delegation's meeting with Satya Pal Malik came about 12 hours after PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti along with leaders of other parties including Sajad Lone and Shah Faesal met the Governor for similar reasons and were told to not create an atmosphere of fear in the Valley by linking 'other issues' to what is purely a security-related situation.

"The conditions, the fear, the atmosphere of panic, that has prevailed in the last few days has deteriorated after yesterday's order," Omar Abdullah began, listing his reasons for the call on the Governor, and adding, "The order that hotels in tourist areas like Gulmarg that have never been a site for terrorism - the way they were emptied - looking at this we met the Governor to find out what's going on, because we're not getting answers from anywhere."

READ| Mehbooba Mufti Unmoved By Pakistan Targeting Amarnath Yatris, Says It's A 'red Herring' To Distract From Economy

"We told the Governor 'you accuse us of spreading rumours', but the truth is that wherever we try to ascertain the truth, nobody tells us. When we ask officers they tell us 'something is happening, don't know what.' We asked the Governor to tell us what's going on," he said.

Speaking on the 'other issues' in relation to J&K that have been spoken about by a number of leaders in the state in the context of the recent developments, Omar Abdullah said that he got the same answer that Mehbooba Mufti got - "Governor reiterated what he said yesterday, and we also spoke to him about Article 35A, 370, delimitation and even trifurcation - but the Governor told us that nothing like this is being discussed."

Abdullah went on to say, however, that the Governor wasn't the final word on Jammu and Kashmir, and that it is the Government of India that needs to make a formal statement providing answers:

"We want that on Monday when Parliament begins, a statement be made about why the order was issued to curtail the Yatra and send the tourists away."

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Published August 3rd, 2019 at 16:31 IST

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