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United News of India
4 days ago
- General
- United News of India
Sajad Lone accuses NC of 'only going after Kashmiris'
Srinagar, June 4 (UNI) J&K Peoples Conference President Sajad Lone on Wednesday lashed out at National Conference and its current administration, accusing them of targeting Kashmiris and running a system steeped in 'lies, inaction, and brazen corruption.' Addressing a press conference, Lone said the NC has no power to impact anyone except the common Kashmiri. 'They are going after the very people who voted for them. And those who didn't, they are being treated with callousness. This is exactly what we expected from them,' Lone remarked. He went on to cite rampant corruption and inefficiency in the current setup. 'We will begin collecting evidence, Insha'Allah. They have done no work till date—just lie after lie. Where is the government? What have they delivered to the people?' he questioned. Taking a swipe at the frequent official review meetings, he said, 'They've been holding these meetings for eons here—only to sip tea and eat kebabs. In our time, too, these review meetings meant nothing. Do you think Germany, Japan, UK or US became first-world nations through review meetings? It takes hard work, day and night, to build a nation.' He also raised concerns about the over-centralisation of power in the Chief Minister's office. 'The CM is handling 28 to 30 departments alone. Is he even human? If ministers can't be appointed out of fear or indecision, what is the point of being in power?' He criticised the system still being run by commissioner-secretaries as it was decades ago, asking, 'Why did people even vote if nothing was meant to change and ministers were only meant to stay busy with transfers?' On the recent demand by PDP for Kashmiri Pandit reservation in the Assembly, Lone supported the idea but questioned the timing and intent. 'Yes, Kashmiri Pandits must get political reservation. They are part of Kashmir and must not feel alienated. But why didn't PDP or Congress act when they were in power for 30-40 years? This selective remembrance of KP issues when out of power is hypocrisy. The same applies to human rights. Those who violated them now pretend to be their defenders — it's a cruel joke,' he said. UNI MJR SSP
Indian Express
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Take people along… don't hand out collective punishment': J-K MLAs appeal on house demolitions
Unanimously passing a resolution on Monday condemning the Pahalgam terror attack, members of the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly pointed to the public outrage over the incident across the Valley and cautioned against any 'misplaced action that alienates the people'. They referred to the reports of harassment of Kashmiri students and businessmen in other parts of the country, as well as the demolition of houses belonging to the families and even distant relatives of terrorists in the Valley, with one MLA describing it as 'collective punishment'. Referring to the fact that people came out of their houses in protest against the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 dead, 25 of them tourists, People's Conference leader Sajad Lone said the biggest challenge law enforcers have had in the past is that they could not distinguish between an innocent man and a terrorist, with several innocents dying in the process or suffering. The violence will not end unless there are thousands of pony wallahs such as Syed Adil Hussain Shah who had come to the rescue of tourists, Lone said. 'However, to nurture people and make them like Syed Adil Shah, you have to create the environment… To have such an environment, we cannot take measures which are regressive.' Stressing that the cooperation of local people was needed for enduring peace, he said: 'We have to make corrections. If we do not make corrections, we will bleed.' The People's Conference leader referred to alleged incidents of harassment of Kashmiri students in some parts of the country, and said this should be checked. 'We have to tell the people that when you do something, it gets magnified and feeds the mindset that terrorists want. Let us not do what terrorists want us to do.' Muzaffar Iqbal Khan, an Independent MLA from Thanmandi in Rajouri, Jammu, who supports the ruling National Conference, said that while no words were enough to condemn the 'cowardly' terrorist act, 'there should not be collective punishment of innocent people just because someone in their distant family has become a militant'. He said houses of even those who no longer have any contact with their relatives who had joined terrorism had been demolished. 'Such actions will not end the terror ecosystem,' Khan said. Veteran CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami accused the terrorists who struck in Pahalgam of 'trying to foist their divisive agenda' on people. 'A message should go from this House that we are all citizens of this country and it is our collective responsibility to ensure security of all'', including tourists coming to J&K and the students from Kashmir studying elsewhere in the country, he said. 'Only then can we defeat the terrorists' agenda of dividing people on communal lines.' Calling for establishing 'the rule of law', Tarigami said this ran contrary to the demolition of houses to target terrorists. Many of these structures had been standing for years, he said, 'but all of a sudden, you say today that these are terrorist hideouts'. 'The fight against terror cannot be successful unless the rule of law is established in J&K,' he said.
Time of India
25-04-2025
- Time of India
Pahalgam Attack Impact: Kashmir tourism hit by mass cancellations after Pahalgam attack, ET TravelWorld
Advt Advt Travel plans to Kashmir: Cancellations surge, bookings drop Following the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir's tourism industry is facing a significant setback. Travel bookings have plummeted, with concerned tourists cutting short their trips and cancelling future plans during the peak summer season. Travel agencies are overwhelmed with inquiries and cancellations, prompting airlines to offer waivers and additional flights. See More Details By , ETTravelWorld Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals Subscribe to our newsletter to get latest insights & analysis. Download ETTravelWorld App Get Realtime updates Save your favourite articles The April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which killed 28 tourists, has led to a significant downturn in Kashmir 's tourism sector. A LocalCircles survey of over 21,000 Indian travelers reveals 62% of families with 2025 Kashmir travel plans are now canceling bookings. Only 38% intend to proceed with their trips, signalling a crisis for the region's tourism-dependent attack has disrupted what was shaping up to be a record tourism year. Jammu and Kashmir had already welcomed 2.3 crore visitors in early 2025, building on 2023's record of 21.1 million tourists. The timing is particularly damaging, with the key Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage season set to begin in June. Airlines report over 15,000 flight cancellations to Srinagar in the attack's immediate data shows travellers remain deeply divided about future visits. While 29% say they'll likely visit Kashmir within three years, 33% will decide based on government handling of security. Another 21% have ruled out visiting, reflecting lasting concerns about safety. The responses highlight how security incidents can have long-term impacts beyond immediate stakeholders express alarm at the economic consequences. Former minister Sajad Lone noted the attacks aim to "disempower Kashmir economically," while tour operators fear both short-term losses and prolonged reputational damage. The crisis threatens thousands of jobs in hospitality, transportation, and related sectors that depend on tourist response will be crucial to restoring confidence. Both state and central authorities face pressure to implement visible security measures for tourists while apprehending those responsible. Effective communication about safety improvements and potential travel incentives may help mitigate the damage, but progress needs to be survey demographics reveal concerns span India's urban-rural divide, with respondents from Tier 1 (41%), Tier 2 (28%), and Tier 3/rural areas (31%). This broad-based wariness suggests recovery efforts must address nationwide perceptions of risk. Women travellers (37% of respondents) may require particular reassurance given safety tourism sector now faces its most serious challenge in years. While the region has rebounded from past crises, the scale of cancellations and uncertain traveller sentiment underscores the need for coordinated security and recovery measures. How quickly and effectively authorities respond will likely determine whether 2025 becomes a temporary setback or a prolonged downturn for Kashmir's vital tourism industry.
News18
24-04-2025
- News18
Survey Flags Tourism Crisis: 6 In 10 Cancel Kashmir Plans Post Pahalgam Attack
Last Updated: The message from the survey, conducted by LocalCircles, is clear: Kashmir's image has taken a brutal hit, and rebuilding tourist confidence won't be easy Just two days after terrorists opened fire in Pahalgam, killing 26 people — most of them tourists — the ripple effects are already being felt across India's travel industry. A new survey by LocalCircles shows a steep collapse in tourist confidence: six in ten families who had planned to travel to Kashmir this year are now cancelling their trips. The April 22 attack, which took place in one of Kashmir's most popular and scenic destinations, has not only claimed lives but also upended what was expected to be a record-breaking summer for the Valley. Pahalgam also serves as a key base for the annual Amarnath Yatra, and the timing of the violence has alarmed both religious travellers and the tourism industry alike. The LocalCircles survey, which gathered over 21,000 responses from 361 districts, found that: Among the remaining respondents, 21 per cent said they definitely won't travel to Kashmir in the near future, while others marked the destination as never being on their radar. Tourism had been booming in Kashmir, with over 2.3 crore tourists visiting the region so far in 2025, according to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. That follows 2.1 crore in 2023 and 1.88 crore in 2022, showing a consistent rise in footfall — a rare streak of economic optimism in the conflict-prone region. But the Pahalgam killings have triggered mass cancellations, say travel operators, with over 15,000 flight tickets to Srinagar already called off or rescheduled. Hotel bookings, too, are being withdrawn at scale. Many stakeholders fear the long-term blowback could be worse than previous seasons marked by separatist-led hartals. Former minister Sajad Lone said the fresh wave of violence was part of a pattern aimed at stifling Kashmir's economic recovery: 'These terror attacks are aimed at yet again disempowering us economically," he said. The survey also found that the impact was nationwide: of the respondents, 63 per cent were men and 37 per cent women, with representation from tier 1, 2, 3, and rural areas. The results reflect a cross-section of Indian travellers, showing how fear stemming from one high-profile incident can lead to a national shift in sentiment. While many still hope the government can restore confidence through robust action and security measures, the message is clear — for tourists, Kashmir has once again become a destination of doubt. As officials scramble to reassure visitors and bolster safety, the stakes are not just emotional or symbolic — they are deeply economic. Without immediate intervention, a season that promised growth could spiral into crisis. First Published:
Mint
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Kashmir tourism under threat: 62% families drop travel plans after Pahalgam terror attack, says LocalCircles survey
A new survey conducted by LocalCircles reveals that the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed at least 28 lives, has had a massive impact on Kashmir's tourism sector. The attack, carried out by militants linked to The Resistance Front, has led to widespread fear and immediate cancellations of travel plans. According to the survey, 62% of families who had travel or pilgrimage bookings to Kashmir between May and December 2025 are now cancelling their plans. The LocalCircles survey gathered over 21,000 verified responses from 361 districts. Respondents included 63% men and 37% women. The responses came from tier 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and rural areas. Kashmir saw record tourist footfall, with over 2.3 crore visitors already in 2025. It was expected to have a strong season. However, the incident has not only affected general tourism but is also likely to impact the upcoming Amarnath Yatra. Domestic airlines have already received over 15,000 cancellation or rescheduling requests for flights to Srinagar. The survey also finds that only 29% of respondents plan to visit Kashmir within the next three years. Meanwhile, 33% said their decision would depend on how well the government handled the security situation. Tour operators fear the long-term effects could be damaging if confidence is not restored quickly. However, 38% of those originally planning a trip still intend to go ahead even though the overall mood remains cautious. J&K MLA Sajad Lone also voiced concern, stating the attack was aimed at 'economically disempowering' the region. Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier condemned the Pahalgam terror attack in strong words. 'These terrorists and those who conspired towards this attack will get a punishment bigger than they can imagine. The willpower of 140 crore Indians will now break the back of the masters of terror,' he said. First Published: 24 Apr 2025, 03:00 PM IST
