KL Report
SRINAGAR
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Friday hit out at separatists for opposing Kausarnag Yatra on the ground of environment protection.
“The local people are doing more harm to the ecology of the region,” Omar said.
“I don’t understand how 150 people visiting a lake can in any way do more damage to the environment than we ourselves do,” Omar said adding “Please visit Gulmarg, Pahalgam or Sonmarg where people have gone during this long weekend and see the mess they leave there,” Omar told reporters.
Citing the example of Dal Lake in the city, he said, “See the mess we create in Dal Lake.”
“I think we create far more damage to the environment than 150 persons visiting a lake,” he added.
Omar also criticised the local administration over the handling of the Kousarnag Yatra issue.
“While I understand the need of these people to continuously coin political slogans, the mistake was on part of the administration, the way they handled the issue. Otherwise there is nothing to be feared from this issue,” he said.
“They rake up issues with emotional value and they convert it into political slogan,” he said.
