Srinagar: A day after asserting that tourism must be treated as a conflict-neutral activity, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday emphasised the need for a coordinated effort to prevent incidents like the April 22 attack at Baisaran meadows.
Omar also clarified that the conversation with the Government of India regarding the restoration of statehood has not stalled, signaling continued political engagement on the issue.
Omar chaired a high-level meeting in the famous resort of Gulmarg in Baramulla district, with tourism revival as the core agenda. The meeting was held a day after Omar chaired a Cabinet meeting in Pahalgam.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Omar called for coordinated efforts between the Union Government, the elected leadership, and the Lieutenant Governor’s administration to ensure security of the tourists
“I can promote tourism and build infrastructure. The responsibility for security and law and order lies with the Lieutenant Governor,” Omar said. “The fact is that security and law and order is not the responsibility of the elected government….. Therefore, clearly, there are three sets of power centers that need to coordinate to ensure that things go smoothly here.”
Referring to the terror incident on April 22 at Pahalgam in which 25 tourists and a local were killed, Omar urged all stakeholders to collaborate.
“The Union Government, the elected government, and the administration represented by Raj Bhawan need to work together to ensure that what happened on April 22 doesn’t happen again,” he said.
The Chief Minister emphasised the government’s intent after holding back-to-back meetings at the tourist resorts was to signal that the region is ready to welcome tourists once again.
“We are trying to send a message that we are reopening Jammu and Kashmir for tourism,” Omar said, underlining the impact of the halt in tourism activities since April 22.
“The silence that followed the attack affected the region, but our presence here is a step toward making the city lively again. This will aid both in boosting public confidence and promoting the region. We are committed to normalising the situation,” he said.
Omar said a cabinet meeting was held in Pahalgam on Tuesday, followed by a meeting of administrative secretaries and senior heads of departments (HODs) in Gulmarg today.
“Before people from across the country start coming here, we should come here first,” Omar remarked.
The Chief Minister said the government is determined to open the tourist destinations that were closed after last month’s terror attack.
“I know that after April 22, we were forced to take such measures. But if we really want to see tourism starting again, we will have to review and gradually reduce this list,” he said.
When asked about restoration of statehood, Omar said the conversation with the government of India has not stalled.
“If you were to take out the speech, the formal speech that circulated in the NITI Aayog meeting, you will find a categorical mention for return of statehood in that which was given to the Honorable Prime Minister and all the members of the Governing Council of the NITI Aayog,” the Chief Minister said.
“So the conversation around statehood has not stalled. The only thing I was unwilling to do was to use the special session of the (Jammu and Kashmir) Assembly to talk about statehood. But that does not mean the conversation has stopped, the conversation is ongoing.” UNI
