Srinagar, June 01 (KNS): National Conference President and former chief minister Dr Farooq Abdullah Wednesday lashed out at the government for proposing increase in aviation fuel levy, saying it will dissuade tourists from visiting Kashmir due to higher airfare.
Farooq said that the Budget tabled by the PDP-BJP coalition contains
“lot of rhetoric”
“There is a lot of rhetoric in the budget. I would like to see something on ground,” the NC president said.
“We want tourists to come here. Today airfare is high as compared to winter and they have raised the aviation fuel caps. Is that going to reduce or increase airfare?” he said.
“Tourists won’t come here when they find traveling to Kashmir expensive than Dubai and other countries,” he added.
The government has proposed to increase aviation turbine fuel levy up from 20 to 25 per cent.
On holding elections for Anantnag Assembly seat on June 19, Farooq said that the PDP-led government had deferred the polls citing law and order situation.
“Earlier, they said the situation is not well so we will not conduct elections. Now tell me has the situation improved? And when the polling is conducted, the month of Ramadan will be observed. And the day is also being observed as the anniversary of Moulana (Qazi Nisar). Is it right and is the Election Commission doing justice with the people of Jammu and Kashmir?Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel” the NC leader said.
Asked whether NC will win the Anantnag Assembly seat on which by-polls are held on June 19, he said, “We are going to fight determinedly and we hope people will realize what she (Mehbooba Mufti) has joined with.”
On the accusation of PDP that NC rigged elections in 1987, the NC leader said: “We did not rig 1987 elections. Had we rigged then our minister would not have lost his election.”
Farooq said that history “will prove who is right and who is wrong” when asked that PDP says that Sheikh Abdullah was rights to choose India and late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was right to form government with BJP.
“It will be answered by historians that who was right and who was wrong,” he said.
The NC president said that Kashmir issue will be resolved only when India and Pakistan will hold talks together.
“Kashmir situation will never improve unless India and Pakistan come to an understanding, unless they meet and decide the future of two Kashmirs, one which is held by Pakistan and one which is with India,” he said.
“They have to sit together to find an amicable solution which is accepted by the larger majority people of Jammu and Kashmir, larger majority of people in India and Pakistan,” he said, adding “That will be the only solution that will work. No other solution will work.” (KNS)