National Conference leader Omar Abdullah
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Friday said tourist arrivals in Jammu and Kashmir should not be linked to normalcy as there is an atmosphere of fear in which no one is sure about their future.
He said that the government should be asked as to how terrorism has returned in the areas declared free from terrorism years ago.
“The arrival of tourists in Kashmir should not be seen as a sign of normalcy. Tourists are coming here since 1995, some years less and some more,” Abdullah told reporters at Chadoora in Budgam district.
He went there to mourn the murder Television artist and Tiktok star Amrin Bhati terrorists at his residence on Wednesday
He said that the claims of normalcy by the government do not reflect the ground reality. “There is an atmosphere of fear. No one is sure who will be the next target. We have a woman who has been shot at her house and her nephew has been injured. Similar incident happened with one of our off duty policemen. It happened together. Where is the normalcy?” He asked.
“We had made Srinagar terrorism free, Ganderbal district areas and Budgam moat areas were incident free. Today I am neither in the government nor claiming to be normal. This question should be asked to the present government.”
Asked about the police’s claims that the killers of Amrin Bhat have been eliminated, the former chief minister said he would not be able to comment on it as he was not aware of the intelligence based on which the operation was carried out.
“We are all troubled by the trend of killing innocent civilians and the present government has to find a way to stop it,” Abdullah said.
Asked about the ED’s summons to the NC president and Farooq Abdullah, he said his father is innocent and is cooperating with the agency.
He said, “Tell me which party opposing the BJP has not knocked on its doors? Farooq sahib has said that he is innocent. He has said that whenever he is asked, he will appear before the agency and answer their questions. Will answer.”
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