Opposition Parties Question Government Over Security Advisory For Amarnath Pilgrims

Amarnath Yatra advisory: Reacting strongly to it, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said the directive would do nothing to dampen the sense of fear that is prevailing in the Valley.

Images: PTI

New Delhi:  Opposition parties including the Congress, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference, the People’s Democratic party and the Left parties on Friday questioned the government over the unprecedented security advisory issued for the Amarnath pilgrims and tourists in the Kashmir valley. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti tweeted: "Complete chaos on the streets of Srinagar. People rushing to ATMs, petrol pumps & stocking up on essential supplies. Is GOI only concerned about the safety of yatris while Kashmiris have been left to their own devices?"

Complete chaos on the streets of Srinagar. People rushing to ATMs, petrol pumps & stocking up on essential supplies. Is GOI only concerned about the safety of yatris while Kashmiris have been left to their own devices?

— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) August 2, 2019

Reacting strongly to it, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah said the directive would do nothing to dampen the sense of fear that is prevailing in the Valley. "Although this unprecedented order would seem to suggest a genuine fear of a massive terror strike directed at Amarnath ji yatris or/and tourists this will do nothing to dampen the sense of fear & foreboding that prevails in the valley at the moment," Abdullah said in a series of tweets. "Seriously? You think an official order telling tourists to leave immediately will not cause them to run from the valley as fast as they can? Which tourist will hang around after seeing this order. The airport & highway will be choked with people leaving," he tweeted.

Although this unprecedented order would seem to suggest a genuine fear of a massive terror strike directed at Amarnath ji yatris or/and tourists this will do nothing to dampen the sense of fear & foreboding that prevails in the valley at the moment. https://t.co/qF99X0nAx6

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) August 2, 2019

  The comments come after the Jammu and Kashmir adminstration asked Amarnath pilgrims and tourists to immediately cut short their stay in the Valley and return as soon as possible in the wake of intelligence inputs of "specific terror threats" to the pilgrimage. Meanwhile, the Left parties hit out at the government saying Parliament should have been taken into confidence before sending out such a missive. In a tweet, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury also alleged that rumours were being allowed to fester in Jammu and Kashmir. "Parliament is in session. Why isn't the PM taking the House into confidence? The panic and rumours allowed to fester in J&K are helping nobody," Yechury said in the tweet. Former Jammu and Kashmir CM Ghulam Nabi Azad after the meeting of Jammu and Kasshmir Policy Planning Group of Congress, which was held under the chairmanship of former Prime Minister  Manmohan Singh, said “deep concern was expressed at continuous reports emanating from both Home Ministry and J&K government which were creating an atmosphere of panic and apprehension about intentions of the Government of India.” “Massive build-up of security forces, curtailment of Amarnath Yatra and also unprecedented advisories being issued to tourists,yatris and civilians are creating an atmosphere of heightened insecurity and fear. We urge Governmnet of India not to take any decision which would precipitate a deep crisis,” he added The Jammu and Kashmir government asked the Amarnath pilgrims and tourists on Friday to immediately make necessary arrangements to cut short their stay in the Valley and return as soon as possible in the wake of intelligence inputs of "specific terror threats" to the pilgrimage. The principal secretary (home) of the state issued a security advisory, saying pilgrims and tourists "may curtail their stay" and "return as soon as possible". .