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| Wani's 'untrue sermons' in Malaysia, tourists face harassment in J&K | | Urchins out to spoil the show | | Appalled at the treatment meted out to him by goons at Bhaderwah, Charanjit Singh does not want to believe that any government exist in Jammu and Kashmir
Syed Junaid Hashmi
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, July 8 : While Minister for Tourism and Culture Nasir Aslam Wani was sermonizing Malaysian people to choose his picturesque state as their holiday destination, urchins were out in two different places in Jammu and Kashmir to ruin party of visitors.
Of the two incidents, one took place in Bhaderwah town of district Doda while other was reported from Qazigund in Anantnag district. A Ludhiana-based family had a harrowing time at tourist huts of the Bhadarwah Development Authority (BDA) at Bhadarwah in Doda district when some youths allegedly under the influence of liquor forcibly tried to occupy the family's hut last night.
They abused the family members in full public view. None was there to listen to the woes of aggrieved family. From officials of Bhaderwah Development Authority (BDA) to police, it seemed as if all had been holidaying. And when the police finally intervened, they preferred taking law into their own hands. Instead of booking the drunken youth for harassment, they roughed them up.
A case was later filed against them but things had escalated by then. A business tycoon from Ludhiana Charanjit Singh had come all the way to Bhaderwah to enjoy scenic beauty of "Chotta Kashmir". At around 10 p.m, when the family was sitting outside the hut, some youths came there and claimed that the hut had been allotted to them.
On being told to behave properly, the six youth in inebriated condition began abusing the family. Not only this, they occupied chairs in the verandah and began asking the family to vacate the hut. Terrified over this, the family began running helter-skelter. Their cries reached the ears of officials of Bhaderwah Development Authority (BDA) who took more than an hour in reaching on the spot.
Situation was bought under control. Police was called and all six youth were arrested. Arrest did bring temporary relief to the family but left such imprints on their mind that when the family reached Jammu, they decided against visiting the place in future. Further, the BDA officials did not miss an opportunity in putting the blame on security apparatus and said that it took place during change of guard.
Chief Executive Officer, BDA, Kalyan Singh claimed that the incident took place for the first time at tourists huts at Gatha, near the Fish Pond, in a secluded area of Bhadarwah. Informed sources said that Wani despite being home minister is yet to be informed about the incident. He claimed in Malaysia that state was as safe as any other place in the world and "tourists have never been a target"
However, not only in Bhaderwah but some goons had roughed up pilgrims returning from Amarnath in Qazigund area of Anantnag district. However, as Wani had himself admitted that whatever trouble there is localised. In this case also, the trouble was localised and police did intervene but preferred advising pilgrims to remain silent. They did the same.
Matter was hushed up at the local level. Calm was restored and things were again brought in order. But the larger fact remains that religious polarization has deepened across the state and tourists are the soft target available around. Gulmarg which is known as the most important tourist destination has been ruined by ponywallahs. They not only abuse tourists but at places even threaten them of dire consequences if they not hire them.
Wani talked of 20 new tourist destinations that had come up across the state. But he missed to give same audience a lecture on how safe actually these tourist destinations are. He also did not elaborate on measures taken to keep these tourist destinations safe. He kept the audience blind on how the urchins throw stones on tourist buses |
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