Excelsior Correspondent
SRINJAGAR, Mar 5: The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today alleged that assets of J&K were put on sale by the Government while locals have been pushed out of every sector.
Reacting to the latest order on Srinagar Golf course , she said that the sale of Royal Golf Spring is another example of how the Government is “developing” this region post Aug 5 decision. “Everything has been put on `sale’. This is yet another step to sell our assets to non local businesses,” she alleged.
“Kashmir is the oldest golfing destination not just in South Asia but perhaps East of Suez. Gulmarg, Kashmir Golf clubs are the second oldest after Calcutta. Our golf clubs are not mere real estate as GoI is treating the state but an essential part of our identity and heritage,” Mehbooba said.
The PDP chief opined that if the present administration was finding the maintenance difficult because of its inherent inefficiency and agenda, it should focus on improving the organisation running golf courses and hire experts from anywhere.
“Whether Jammu or in Kashmir selling golf courses is unacceptable as we’ve witnessed that this outsourcing generally ends up in ownerships and irreversible. Tourism being our key sector , the order says , many properties of JKTDC and Tourism Department are being given out . This is happening when in Gulmarg they are not renewing the leases to the local hoteliers. This looks like taking every important avenue from our hands,” she said, adding that on the one hand poor people are being hounded out of what has been theirs for generations and on the other premier assets are up for sale .
Mehbooba alleged that the August 5 decision has led to rampant exploitation of land resources, jobs, and rivers in the region, with outsiders being given preference over locals. “This has resulted in a rise in unemployment, drug abuse, mafia activities, environmental degradation and above all dispossession and disempowerment of locals,” she added.
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