KL Desk
SRINAGAR
In a bid to defuse a looming crisis over the track-widening to the cave shrine of Amarnath, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah offered Syed Ali Geelani state’s two choppers to fly to the mountain belt and detect where the road is being laid. He said the separatists statements are misleading and a threat to peace and he should verify things before actually making a statement.
“No road is being laid as there is no requirement for a road at all,” Omar told reporters while visiting various old city areas. “Nobody has sought land from us and we have not given anything.”
Omar said Geelani should make statements responsibly as it could disturb peace. “I will keep state’s both the choppers at his disposal and let him take the best photographer along with to detect where the macadamized road is being laid,” Omar was quoted saying.
Offering his version of things, Omar said there is no demand for a road in any of the related document. “It is a track and we are supposed to improve it wherever it needs repairs,” Omar said. “As for gates, these are vital for managing the pilgrim rush.” Omar said the state government is doing nothing that is in violation of the environment and the forest norms.
Based on the recommendations that a high level expert committee has made, the apex court has directed J&K government to improve the existing facilities and the infrastructure. State government has already tasked chief secretary Madhav Lal to implement the directions. Apex court acted suo moto after a number of pilgrims died on the twin tracks for reasons of weather, accidents and health.
Omar was reacting to the statement of Geelani suggesting that the state government is planning a road to the cave shrine. Geelani has threatened an agitation on the issue after the Eid is over.
Official spokesman added:
“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”, Omar said and referred to the militant attack on a hotel near Srinagar on Friday in which a civilian was killed and some injured. Such attempts, he said, are aimed at disturbing peace and tranquility 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.
Omar was speaking to a public gathering in Old Srinagar after inaugurating the new shrine complex of great saint Hazrat Sharf-ud-Din Abdul Rehman Bul Bul Shah Sahib (RA) at Bulbul Lanker.
Throwing an “open challenge” to Geelani, Omar suggested him to fly over the peaks. “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 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 tranquility, 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 tranquility 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.
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. 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.
