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| Govt reacts on 'defensive note', says it is only media hype | | JI dress code 'advisory' for tourists | | Early Times Report
jammu, July 7: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has done it again. Notwithstanding his desire to have sustained peace in the State, he , instead of coming down heavily on elements hell bent on disrupting peace and economic boom through surge in tourism industry, is trying to be defensive and on appeasement path for such people. In what could be seen as Chief Minister downplaying the dress code diktat, Omar Abdullah today said the Jamaat-e-Islami had clarified that it had only appealed to tourists not to wear clothes which were not in line with the local ethos, and it had not threatened anyone. The CM also said it was only media hype which is playing up the issue.
Chief Minister said this while replying to queries of reporters related to the issue in Jammu. Even as a Senior Cabinet Minister Ghulam Hassan Mir promptly reacted to the JI 's dress code diktat contending there existed no such tradition in Kashmir, Omar's statement today is the first official reaction at the top level over the issue that created negative waves at a time when Kashmir Valley is witnessing heavy rush of tourists from far and wide.
Agriculture Minister in the Omar Government and a veteran politician from Kashmir, Mir opposed the dress code diktat and said it loudly that the people of Kashmir and society as a whole has never accepted the theory of people wearing particular dress." Such things send a wrong message to the society and it will definitely affect the tourism. People and those who are associated with tourism will never accept such a dress code," Mir said two days back.
It is pertinent to mention here that Jamaat -e-Islami group has asked the tourists not to wear short or tight clothes. Not only a diktat, but Tourism Department has been urged to enforce the `advisory' on this 'order'. Even though JI and other like minded groups have been issuing diktats which more or less impact the lives of local people in Kashmir but this is for the first time that dress code diktat has come from nay group in the Valley. No matter any incident of coercion has been reported so far but this has been sharply reacted by political parties and even by few separatist leaders , probably fearing criticism that may cause some damage to the 'cause' of Kashmir in the changed socio-political atmosphere.
Strangely, the Government which should have instantly come out with condemnation of the JI dress code diktat maintained silence till Chief Minister Omar broke it himself, that too on media intervention through questions. "It is the media that is playing up the issue," he said while replying to queries. It goes without saying that any tourist visiting Kashmir valley is precious guest for the Government as it is through hard earned efforts which Government has been able to revive tourism in the state.
Tourists come here for enjoying the nature's beauty and they would desire their holidays to be spent in a relaxed and fearless manner without any 'codes' to be followed. In that sense it is the Government's prime duty to make them feel comfortable on all fronts and also ensure their protection. Instead of dealing with such elements sternly and asking them to desist from making such utterings , the Government is conducting itself in a way which encouraged them. |
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