BJP chief spokesman Sunil Sethi on Tuesday slammed National Conference (NC) MP Aga Ruhullah Mehdi for allegedly making a controversial statement that tourism causes cultural invasion in Kashmir.
Addressing newsmen here, he claimed that Ruhallah’s statement was detrimental and dangerous to tourism in the region.He questioned whether NC supports Ruhullah’s ‘fear politics’ attempting to instill fear in tourists and the common people. He asked the NC to take action against Ruhullah’s statement.
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“The statement, in which MP Ruhullah stated that tourism causes cultural invasion in Kashmir is dangerous for a democratic setup. It is harmful to peace and progress. Is this the new political strategy of NC, which historically runs on the politics of ‘fear’. NC should tell, whether it stands in favour of this statement?”, said Sethi.
“Tourism is the mainstay of the economy in Kashmir. The tourism revival in Kashmir has brought prosperity in Kashmir which has made the lives of Kashmiris easier. NC has a history of such ‘loose cannons’ from time to time like its leaders raising pro-Pakistan slogans in the house and now this anti-people statement”, said Sethi .This statement is to terrorize tourism and the people thus proving harmful for the tourism-based economy in Kashmir, he added.
If the tourism industry gets hit by this statement, the NC led by Omar Abdullah, and Dr. Farooq Abdullah should be held responsible for the loss. If NC doesn’t take any action against its leaders, then it is the party’s nod to the statement. This is the start of ‘political terrorism’ in the Jammu & Kashmir. This political terrorism is being raised to instill the sense of ‘fear’ in the people by the NC government, Sethi alleged.
BJP will strongly resist any such move. The BJP’s clear stance is to take legal and political action against such a leader who is hell bent to destroy the tourism sector and hence economic activity in the region, he warned.