Srinagar: Continuing war of words over Amarnath construction row, Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Dr Farooq Abdullah called Separatist leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani a ‘liar’.
“He (Geelani) is lying to people on Amarnath road widening and construction issue. The journalists had an aerial tour to get a firsthand look at the route who did not find a single road being constructed anywhere. Where do they get this false information from?’Abdullah said at a function in Narbal area of Ganderbal area of Central Kashmir.
“It proves that they want to destabilize the social fabric of the state by inciting people,” NC leader said, adding, “Poor people in Pahalgam and Sonamarg earn their livelihood when these yatris perform darshan. I do not understand why these leaders are hell bent to take away their livelihood.”
Dr Abdullah cautioned people of Jammu and Kashmir against what he called the elements trying to destabilize the social fabric of the state.
“Kashmir is a ‘peer vaer’ (land of Saints and Sufis), and everyone has lived here in communal harmony, no one has the right to disturb the social fabric. Kashmir is a necklace with pearls of different religious beliefs. We will not allow anyone to dilute Kashmiriyat,” the union minister added.
He also called on central government to consider J&K a special case due to harsh winter here and raise its LPG quota.
The minister further said, “People in Indian states can buy a gas cylinder at the cost of Rs 800 but J&K should be considered as a special case given the harsh weather it faces during winters. The people of J&K should be given more cylinders keeping in view the acute cold conditions it faces in winters.”
“The Omar Abdullah government and our ministers have requested the Prime Minister and also the Union petroleum minister to increase the cap for our state and we are hopeful of a positive outcome soon,” he said.
Zahid Maqbool is a freelance journalist based in Srinagar.
