SRINAGAR — Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday thanked Union Home Minister Amit Shah for reopening 14 tourist destinations in Jammu and Kashmir, which had been closed following the Pahalgam terror attack last year.
Abdullah said he had raised the issue during his recent meetings with the home minister in Jammu and New Delhi, urging that there was no purpose in keeping the destinations shut. He said he was assured that the places would be reopened and that orders to this effect have now been issued.
The chief minister added that local residents dependent on tourism had suffered losses due to the closure and expressed hope that visitors would now return to these beautiful places.
The lieutenant governor on Monday ordered the reopening of 11 tourist destinations in Kashmir and three in the Jammu region. These were among over 80 places closed in the aftermath of the April 22 terror attack last year, which left 26 people, mostly tourists, dead.
Responding to controversial remarks made by BJP MLA Vikram Randhawa, Abdullah said the truth had prevailed, claiming that a case had been registered against Randhawa for allegedly occupying government land.
He alleged that there is often a gap between the words and deeds of BJP leaders, saying they speak about Jammu and Kashmir but fail to match their actions. Citing Rajya Sabha MP Ghulam Ali Khatana, Abdullah alleged that while he represents J&K, 90 percent of his MPLAD funds was spent in Uttar Pradesh.
Asked about electricity supply during the month of Ramzan, the chief minister said he would chair a review meeting to assess arrangements and ensure minimal inconvenience to the public during the fasting month.
On protests by daily wagers, Abdullah said there was no need for street demonstrations as the government had already announced in the Assembly that they would be regularised this year through a time-bound process.
He urged them not to be influenced for political reasons and said the government remained committed to resolving their issues through dialogue. — (PTI)