Collective responsibility for ensuring peaceful Amarnath Yatra: Mehbooba
Mehbooba said this during her visit to the tourist resort of Pahalgam in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir.
Pahalgam was struck by a brutal terrorist attack on April 22, leaving 25 tourists and a local dead. During the Amarnath Yatra, Pahalgam serves as the traditional base camp for the yatris
'…Amarnath Yatra is about to start. That's why I called all our workers on the route of Amarnath Yatra. I told them that the people of Pahalgam have to take care of Amarnath Yatra so that the Yatra goes well,' Mehbooba told a gathering at the tourist resort.
She highlighted the historical role of Pahalgam's residents in fostering communal harmony.
'The people of Pahalgam have kept Hindu-Muslim unity alive in the country. For centuries, the people of Kashmir and Pahalgam have welcomed Amarnath Yatris with open hearts, and this legacy will continue with the same spirit and sincerity,' she said.
Mehbooba underscored that the security of Amarnath Yatris is a shared responsibility, noting, no matter how many security forces are deployed, the actual responsibility for a peaceful Amarnath Yatra lies with every inhabitant of Pahalgam.
She said once the Amarnath Yatra will be peaceful, people will regain their confidence and tourism will start again.
The PDP chief also urged Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the Lieutenant Governor to take swift action to reopen popular tourist destinations such as Chandanwari, Aru Valley, Betab Valley, and other parks in Pahalgam.
She questioned the delay in their reopening, stating, 'I want to ask Omar sahab, no one stops you from giving jobs to retired people or transferring officers as you wish. If you can exercise your authority freely in these matters, why can't you ensure these parks are open for the public?'
'We, in the opposition, can only raise our voice. But if you, despite being in government, only make statements, what's the difference between you and us?' she asked
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