We aren’t counting rupees, paisas: CM
Srinagar, Apr 25: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Friday said that the economy was not the concern for the government and the stakeholders but the concern was the loss of 26 lives in the Pahalgam terrorist attack.
Addressing media persons soon after holding a meeting with all the associations of tourism, trade, and industry at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convocation Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar, he said that the purpose was to condemn the killing of 26 people who were murdered and express condolences and sympathy to their families.
ìAt this point, we are not counting rupees and paisa. It is a credit to all the participants and stakeholders in this meeting that not anyone among them lamented the loss of business, not one of them said what will happen to me as my rooms are empty, what will happen to me my empty houseboat, what will happen to me as my taxi is empty. They all said business comes and goes. At this point our concern is to express solidarity and sympathy with the families of those 26 people who were killed in the Pahalgam attack,î CM Omar said.
He said incidents like Pahalgam should not have happened.
ìDuring the meeting, some suggestions were put forward before the government by the participants. I have assured them that we will follow all the suggestions that have been put forward,î the CM said.
However, he said there may be a time in the future when they would discuss the financial implications of what was happening to the J&K economy.
ìBut none of the participants used this meeting today to either talk about the business losses that they are suffering or ask for any sort of compensation from the government,î CM Omar said.
About the decision of the Centre on the Indus Water Treaty, he said that the Government of India had taken some steps on it.
ìAs far as J&K is concerned, let us be honest, we have never been in favour of the Indus Water Treaty. We have always believed that the Indus Water Treaty has been the most unfair document to the people of J&K,î the CM said.
He said one would have to wait to see what the medium and long-term implications of this attack would be.
On the support and sympathy towards the victim families of the Pahalgam attack, CM Omar said the gesture should at least keep us satisfied.
ìI think we all should at least be satisfied that today in Jamia Masjid, one-minute silence was observed to show solidarity to the victims of the Pahalgam attack,î he said.
The CM said this was the response to all those TV channels which were trying to spread poison against the Kashmiris.
ìUnfortunately, these shameless channels will not show this one-minute silence in Jamia Masjid because by showing this their channels will not run,î he said.
CM Omar said these channels only spread hatred.
ìI wish these channels had the courage. I apologise for saying this but some of the anchors of these channels are cowards as they do not support the truth. If they supported the truth they would have told the world that a one-minute silence was observed today in the historic Jamia Masjid of Kashmir to express solidarity with 26 victims of the Pahalgam attack,î he said.
About the governmentís plans to recommend a bravery award to Pahalgam youth for giving his life to save tourists, the CM said it was a major part of their discussions in meetings with different trade bodies.
ìWe mentioned it in the declaration of the All Party Meeting on Thursday. He is not only a symbol of Kashmiriyat but of Kashmiri hospitality and it is our responsibility not just to reward him and his family but to keep that memory alive for times immemorial,î he said.
CM Omar said the government would find a suitable mechanism to do that.
ìMaharashtra Tour and Travel Operators have already decided to adopt his family to take care of all their education needs from now until they complete their education and also to help the family in the days and years ahead,î he said.
About the insecurity among the J&K students studying in outside colleges, the CM said he had already spoken to Home Minister Amit Shah who had assured him that all steps would be taken outside Jammu and Kashmir to safeguard students, traders, or anyone else for their security and safety.
ìAn advisory will be issued by the Home Minister. The Home Minister too has spoken to some CMs about this. I have also spoken to some CMs about this. Wherever such news is coming, concrete steps are being taken. The ministers from here have also gone to different states. They will meet the governments and if there are any further steps to be taken that will be done,î he said.
