SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said most tourist destinations in the Union Territory have reopened and that his government is taking every precaution to ensure visitors feel safe.
Speaking in Chennai at an event organised by The Good Deeds Club on September 13, Abdullah urged more tourists from Tamil Nadu and other southern States to visit Jammu and Kashmir. He said the government was working to build stronger connections with regions south of the Vindhyas and hoped to see more film shoots as well as holiday travel from there.
“Most of our tourist destinations have reopened after a comprehensive security audit conducted in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor,” he said. “Some remain closed, but the government is taking all necessary precautions.”
On the political front, Abdullah reaffirmed the National Conference’s commitment to the INDIA bloc, underlining that Congress remains an ally despite staying out of the government until Statehood is restored. He insisted that the promise of Statehood, made by the Prime Minister and senior ministers, must be honoured without further delay.
Touching on the arrest of Aam Aadmi Party legislator Mehraj Malik under the Public Safety Act, Abdullah described the move as an excessive use of force. “He should never have been arrested under this law. If there is a complaint about his conduct, the matter should be taken up with the Speaker of the Assembly,” he said, calling for Malik’s immediate release.
On broader national issues, Abdullah welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Manipur, saying it was overdue but essential for peace and reconciliation in the violence-hit State. He also commented on the India-Pakistan cricket match scheduled for September 14, noting that sport in the subcontinent often suffers from political tensions but expressing hope that the game could signal a positive trajectory.
Abdullah also raised concerns over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision, cautioning that any erosion of credibility would damage one of India’s most respected institutions. He recalled the legacy of former Chief Election Commissioner T.N. Seshan as a standard worth emulating.
