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| Influential Kashmiris lobby for their 'best bet' | | Kaun Banega Ga Director Tourism? | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Nov 11: Even as the charge of Director Tourism Kashmir has been temporarily handed over to Divisional Commissioner Kashmir following controversy surrounding the FAM Kashmir tour, some "influential" Kashmiri want their "own man" get the chair.
Source said at least three groups of "influential businessmen and politicians" have been lobbying hard and have even been holding meetings with some faces close to Raj Bhawan to get their own man at the helm of affairs. One of their "favorite officials" had worked as Director Tourism during the previous Peoples Democratic Party led regime when complaints of multi-crore irregularities in spending had surfaced in the department. The other one has previously worked as RTO Kashmir while the third man was seen as "kitchen man" of a senior PDP leader, who was recently seen in Dubai.
Sources said one of the groups is led by the senior leader of the Peoples Democratic Party wielding influence in Amira Kadal constituency while his "friends" in hotel and travel industry are supporting him.
Sources said this group is batting in favor of one of the officials who had been their "loyalist" for years as a "kitchen man". Sources said the official has told the lobby that if he is brought to power, he will help them out through government funds to the tune of millions.
Sources said the lobby of this group is done through one "hotelier" who recently conveyed to the PDP leader that "We have made the investment and demand will be met."
It was reliably learnt that the group is "expecting good news in the coming week."
Another group is that of people associated with tour and travel industry. Sources said this group has told the top brass in the civil secretariat that they want to get back same officer "who during the previous PDP-BJP regime blessed them with fortunes."
Sources said the group is backed by a top PDP leader, who wants that his "misgivings during their regime need to be kept hidden."
"See if any new director brings austerity in spending, the expenditure done is the last four years will come under scanner and that is what we want to be avoided. And how can we forget he helped some of us out of the way," said a tour operator on the condition of anonymity.
Sources said the tour operators have conveyed to this PDP leader, who is also a "political scion" that the government is considering their demand. "You don't worry we will do anything to get him back," the businessmen are understood to have told the PDP leader.
Sources said the third group wants one official who has been their "old aide" and has previously worked as RTO Kashmir and also enjoys good relations with the National Conference leaders.
Meanwhile the people associated with tourism in Kashmir in general have appealed the Chief Secretary BVR Subramaniam not to take any decision is haste. "There are some big sharks who want to get their own man at the helm, but we the people who have no influence want to humbly tell Raj Bhawan and the Chief Secretary to take decision in the interest of the unheard community and not for some brokers," said a delegation of tourism players.
Pertinently the incumbent Director Tourism was stripped off of the powers vested in him after his controversial video of address to FAM delegates in Gulmarg went viral on social media. |
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