Srinagar, July 29: National Conference (NC) president Dr. Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday strongly defended the rapid growth of hotels in Jammu and Kashmir, dismissing Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha’s remarks about thousands of “illegal” hotels and asserting that the hospitality sector has helped people become self-reliant instead of depending on government jobs.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a function in Srinagar, Dr. Farooq said the increase in hotels was a natural response to the growing tourist influx and should be viewed as a positive development rather than a concern.
Reacting to the Lieutenant Governor’s recent statement that over 5,000 illegal hotels had come up in Jammu and Kashmir, he said, “Be thankful those hotels have come up. Tourists visit here. Where else would they stay? I have seen the time when tourists had to sleep in taxis, cars and even on the roads. Be thankful that people are now standing on their own feet instead of depending on government jobs.”
Turning to the alleged crackdown on students in Delhi, the NC president said the issue had become more serious because families of those booked in different cases were also allegedly being targeted.
“The families are being harassed. This is a big issue and the government must take it seriously,” he said, urging the authorities to address the matter without delay.
On Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK), Dr. Farooq said the Centre should raise the concerns of people living there if it considers the region an integral part of India.
He said he had appealed to the Prime Minister and the External Affairs Minister to speak up on developments in PoJK, adding that the United Nations Human Rights Commission should also take note of the situation.
“If PoJK is an integral part of India, then the Government must speak up about what is happening there. I have not heard it raising its voice on the issue,” he said, adding that stronger intervention was needed until the concerns of the people there were addressed. (Agencies)
