New Delhi: Opposing Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s remark urging Kashmiri youth to choose between “tourism and terrorism”, National Conference working president Omar Abdullah on Saturday hit out at Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti saying she failed to present a clear picture of the Valley before the former.
“Terrorism is not expanding due to the less tourism. Kashmir witnessed highest number of tourist before militancy in 1987-88. There is no relation between tourism and terrorism. It is the duty of Mehbooba Mufti to present a clear picture before the Prime Minister,” Omar said.
He efurther added that the Prime Minister`s remark was far from ground reality.
“If you say that the youth here have to choose between tourism and terrorism, then tell me about those areas where there is not much scope for tourism.
Are we directly pushing people in those areas towards terrorism?” he said.
Commenting on the ruling Mufti government`s accusation that the NC rigged assembly elections in 1987 which gave rise to militancy in the state, Omar said that the Chief Minister should talk about today rather than discussing about past.
“Two years has passed since her government came to power. From past three year Prime Minister Narendra Modi is ruling the country. First they should provide us the details of past two-three years. Why is she talking about 1987? Mehbooba Mufti should not try to hide her failure and faults behind 1987,” he said.
Omar further said that the Chief Minister had an opportunity to raise the issues of the Valley in Udhampur but she rather choose only to congratulate the Prime Minister on win in Uttar Pradesh and express gratitude for saving her government.Earlier on April 2, Prime Minister Modi urged the youth to shed terrorism and adopt tourism, adding that the path of bloodshed would never help the state to prosper.
“The youth of Kashmir have a choice to select one of the two paths- one of tourism the other of terrorism. The path of bloodshed has not helped any one and will never help anyone,” Prime Minister Modi said while addressing a rally in Udhampur.
—PTI