Srinagar, Apr 18 (KNS); Asserting that tourism in Kashmir cannot be divorced from the region’s recent history of civilian sacrifice, religious and social figure Dr Khwaja Farooq Renzushah on Saturday called for renaming the urban narrative around Shaheed Adil Chowk and demanded the creation of 11 city districts for Srinagar.
Addressing a joint conference on Tourism and Peace at Rivera Auditorium in Raj Bagh, Dr Renzushah strongly objected to the continued use of the term “Khooni Lal Chowk” for the square, terming it a remnant of a “hate ideology”.
“Tourism in Kashmir must embody the resilience and solidarity that Shaheed Adil Chowk now represents,” he said, recalling that Adil Shah Pooniwala lost his life while protecting 27 Hindu tourists during an attack on April 22, 2025.
The event was jointly organised by KBT’s Syed Muzamil Qadri and Yaqoob Dunu of the Human Rights Department to mark Tourism Day and Peace Day in memory of late Adil Shah.
Dr Renzushah also demanded a major restructuring of Srinagar’s civic administration. Drawing a comparison with Ladakh, which has one district for roughly 20,000 residents, he said Srinagar’s 35 lakh population requires at least 11 city districts, each with around two lakh people.
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He proposed creating districts around historical bridge landmarks and four additional districts from Ram Bagh to Sheikh ul Aalam Airport to manage the migrant influx since the 1990s.
“This initiative is vital for robust urban planning, tackling youth unemployment, and ensuring every citizen’s concerns are addressed swiftly,” he said.
Prominent attendees included Janat Tariq, Tariq Patlo – recently honoured by Prime Minister Narendra Modi – Jenab Manzoor Kadroo, and Deepak Sharma from Rajasthan. Cultural performances from Kashmiri, Rajasthani, Bhopali, and UP artists were also presented.
Dr Renzushah further recalled ancient Buddhist conferences at Harwan over 2,500 years ago and the influence of spiritual leaders like Bulbul Shah and Shah Hamdan, emphasising that Kashmir has historically been a melting pot of cultures. He called for comprehensive disaster management schemes and enhanced district-level development infrastructure. (KNS)