Jammu, July 03: National Conference leader and district president Ramban Sajjad Shaheen has criticized the UT government’s decision to “restrict civilian traffic” on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway during the Amarnath Yatra and urged the Lieutenant Governor administration to revoke the order at the earliest.
“The decision to impose restrictions upon the movement of civilian traffic on the 97-km stretch from Qazigund to Nashri and suspend train services between Qazigund to Banihal is unprecedented and unjustified. While the safety and security of yatris are paramount, it cannot be at the cost of making the lives of people miserable,” he said in a statement.
Shaheen said this is the first instance of an administration restricting civilian traffic along the highway to facilitate the smooth movement of yatra convoys. “The Amarnath yatra has been going on peacefully for centuries without any such restrictions on civilian movement. Kashmiris have always welcomed and facilitated the successful conduct of this ancient pilgrimage, even during troubled times. Kashmir’s pluralistic ethos is all-encompassing and Amarnath Yatra is part and parcel of the core of that historically significant value system,” he said.
Shaheen further said Muslims in Kashmir have always extended help in making administrative arrangements for Amarnath pilgrims making their yatra a symbol of communal harmony and an example of Kashmir’s rich and diverse cultural and religious ethos. “But denying the right of movement of the local population due to the ongoing pilgrimage is not at all acceptable,” he said. “Disrupting the lives of local people and tourists on the pretext of paving a safe way for the Yatris would send a wrong signal to the people of Kashmir.”
Apart from disrupting and inconveniencing the lives of common people, the restriction will also derail the economy of Kashmiri, especially the fruit and vegetable industry,” the NC leader said. “The traffic curbs will affect the movement of fruit and vegetable trucks during yatra movements which will disrupt the horticulture industry. The government must allow transportation of perishable items failing which the growers and dealers may face heavy losses.”
Shaheen further said, “There are numerous reports about the inconvenience caused to the tourists as well due to the restrictions and tourists being stranded at various places. The restrictions have caused damage to stocks of perishable fruits such as cherries and plums as fruit-laden trucks are halted,” he said.
Urging the governor administration to address heightened concerns on the traffic restrictions, Shaheen said, “Imposition of these restrictions is an anti-people step and must be revoked immediately to save further hassle to the people of Kashmir.”
