CM Offers State helicopter to Geelani to witness Pahalgam-Amarnath track status

Srinagar: Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Saturday said that some people are bent upon disturbing peace and drag people into difficulties and hardships adding that his government is working to provide life comforts to people and they are out to use unfounded issues for trouble.
“They try to create fear in the minds of people by using mikes and guns as peaceful situation does not suit to their style of politics”, he said and referred to the militant attack on a hotel near Srinagar on Friday in which a civilian was killed and some injured. He said that such attempts are aimed at disturbing peace and tranquillity in the State and make people fearful.
“A separatist leader is talking of agitation and issues calendar without looking into facts and ascertaining the truth”, he said adding that no road is being built from Pahalgam to Amarnath Cave. “It is all false propaganda. The papers submitted by the State Government in the Supreme Court and the order of the Apex Court itself substantiates and vindicates the fact that no road is being constructed in the said area”, he said adding that those indulging in this propaganda should go through 200 page document provided by the State Government to the Supreme Court in this regard and show us where there has been any talk of building a road.
Addressing a public gathering in the interior of Shahr-i-Khas (Old Srinagar City) after inaugurating the new Shrine Complex of great saint Hazrat Sharf-ud-Din Abdul Rehman Bul Bul Shah Sahib (RA) at Bulbul Lanker, the Chief Minister threw open challenge to Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani in this regard.
“I will keep two helicopters of the State at your (Syed Ali Shah Geelani) disposal to fly over Pahalgam-Amarnath track. You select any photographer of your own choice and have a complete aerial view of the mountains and the track and show us where macadam is being laid even over a metre of the track”, he told Mr. Geelani and ridiculed the falsehood being circulated in this regard to disturb peace. He said that some people have made it their mission to create law and order problem for their benefit. “While we are working hard to restore peace and tranquillity, provide employment to youth, help trade and tourism activities to flourish and carry forward a comprehensive development programme across the State, they are bent upon disturbing tranquillity for their self interests”, he added and said that they have utilized all means in this regard and are in search of occasion to mislead people.
Omar Abdullah said that neither Shrine Board has asked the State for any land nor State Government is going to give it to the Board. “This is all false propaganda being hyped”, he said adding that the construction of gates is only to regulate the flow of yatris and restrict the movement of a particular number of them on the track on a particular day to avoid over crowdedness and ensure safety.
The Chief Minister said that while detractors of peace want us to remain cut off from people by creating law and order situations, our endeavour is to remain joined and linked to the people always and work for all round development and redressal of public grievances. “In the interior of Shahr-i-Khas at this place, my talking to you and hearing your viewpoint is a part of my this endeavour”, he maintained and assured the people that government would be always at their beck and call and fulfil the promises made to them.
Omar Abdullah said that State has suffered a lot due to militancy and disturbances. He said Shahr-i-Khas had to bear most of the brunt on this count. “You had to face the militant attacks, crackdowns, arrests, stone-pelting and what not in larger magnitude. You had to bear the difficulties most but you have not received dividends of peace as much you should have”, he told the huge Srinagar gathering who had come to listen to him on the occasion and said that government was fully aware of the public demands in the city and would take all measures in this regard.
The Chief Minister said that his government has initiated special measures to ensure holistic development of Shahr-i-Khas adding that road widening project and creation of handicraft clusters in this area is in the pipeline. He said that government is working on a project to create direct liaison between the artisans living in Shahr-i-Khas with the visiting tourists so that they can sell handicraft items at their work places to the visitors.
Omar Abdullah announced a Community Hall for the people in Bulbul Lanker area near the Shrine of Hazrat Bul Bul Shah Sahib (RA) and said that the demands presented to him by the people in the form of memorandum would be given due consideration.
On the issue of supply of LPG cylinders to the people, the Chief Minister said that he is fully aware of the difficulties being faced by the commoners on this count. “I have given categorical directions to the police and concerned department to take sever action against unscrupulous agents indulging in black marketing and creating false scarcity”, he said adding that he has directed the CAPD Minister to remain stationed at Srinagar even after darbar move till the problem of supply of gas cylinders to the consumers is over.
“I have told the Central Government that Jammu and Kashmir cannot be placed at par with Delhi and other states so far as supply of LPG is concerned. The people here have to live in sub-zero temperatures and face the difficulty of heavy snowfall. Our highways remain cut off for days together during winter months. There is already ban on cutting of forest trees. The supply of electricity to the State is limited and when we restrict the supply of LPG to them where will they go”, he maintained and said that State Government is strongly advocating the case and some solution to the problem will be sorted out.
The Chief Minister expressed joy over the completion of the Shrine and congratulated the people for it. He said that the Community Hall announced by him would provide facility to people for social gatherings, holding of marriage ceremonies and other functions in this congested area.
Omar Abdullah paid obeisance at the Shrine offered fateh and prayed for peace and prosperity of the State and welfare of its people.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Rural Development, Ali Mohammad Sagar who is also MLA of the area expressed gratitude to the Chief Minister for his keenness for comprehensive development of Srinagar city alongwith other areas of the State.
He said Srinagar has always remained the fortress of Sher-i-Kashmir Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah. He said the people of the city have remained front runners in the political movement spearheaded by Sheikh Sahib. “They deserve special attention on the process of development”, he said and appreciated the steps being taken by the State Government led by Omar Abdullah for the development of the city and the welfare of citizens.
Mr. Sagar said that the State is abode of great sufi saints and his constituency has distinction to possess a great number of shrines of world renowned saints. He described reconstruction of new complex of Hazrat Bulbul Shah Sahib (RA) Shrine as a historic one and congratulated the agencies and people who were associated with this stupendous task.
Ali Mohammad Sagar said that many people do not want peace to root and people to get its benefits. “They want create violence and disbalance tranquillity for their selfish ends”, he said and praised common people for helping the government to restore peace and carry forward economic activities and development on fast tract.
He stressed on creation of more employment opportunities for the youth of Shahr-i-Khas expressing gratitude to Omar Abdullah for holding special police recruitment rallies in the city to provide opportunities to youth to get selected in the police force. He demanded many similar initiatives for Srinagar city residents.
On the occasion, religious personalities Showkat Ahmad Keng, Mohammad Tayub Kamli, Khurshid Ahmad Kanoongo and Abul Hassan Naat Khan were honoured by the Chief Minister by presenting shawls to them.
The Commissioner, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, the executing agency of the Shrine, G. N. Qasba presented vote of thanks on the occasion while Vice Chairman Waqaf Board, M. Y. Qadri, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Baseer Ahmad Khan, SSP Srinagar, Ashaq Bukhari, Chairman, Bul Bul Shah Sahib (RA) Trust and Vice Chairman, Srinagar Development Authority, Khawaja Farooq Renzushah, members of the Trust, officers, religious scholars and prominent citizens were present on the occasion. (KMW News)