Kashmiris welcome Yatra then why restrictions on their own movement: Hakeem Yaseen
Srinagar: Amarnath yatris are guests to the people of Kashmir and are most welcome in the valley, but the unprecedented restrictions put on the civilian movement during the Yatra this year is “beyond one’s thinking”, PDF Chairman, Hakeem Yaseen has said.
In a statement issued on Friday, Yaseen expressed dismay over “the way the Yatra is being managed this year”.
“The gag put on movement of people in Kashmir on pretext of ‘smooth Amarnath Yatra’ is beyond ones thinking,” he added.
Yaseen said that Kashmiris had since centuries welcomed Amarnath Yatris as their guests aptly in accordance to their rich traditions of hospitality and communal harmony.
However, the “myopic planning to conduct Amarnath Yatra this year has made the religious event an affair against Kashmiris,” Yaseen alleged.
“In the name of smooth conduct of Amarnath Yatra this year, heavy restrictions have been imposed on the movement of civilians both on national highway as well as on rail travel”.
He further alleged that the “ill- conceived planning of Yatra this year has caused a great inconvenience to the people of all sections of the society besides severely affecting livelihood of traders”.
Hakeem said that due to the restrictions on civilian movement, employees and students were not able to reach to their offices and colleges “and the total environment has become as suffocating and unpredictable”.
He demanded immediate revocation of restrictions on the civilian movement.
The annual Yatra, he said, has remained a successful event in past only due to the whole hearted cooperation of Kashmiris and this year too, local populace was rendering its unflinching support to the ongoing Yatra”.
“Every Kashmiri welcomed Yatra, so why to restrict the movement of common populace, ” Yaseen questioned.
KV News
