SRINAGAR, Nov 1:
Terming Kashmir as a ‘necklace with pearls of different religious beliefs’, Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah today cautioned people of Jammu and Kashmir against the elements trying to destabilise 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,” Abdullah, who is also President of the ruling National Conference, told reporters on the sidelines of a function at Nagbal in Ganderbal district.
“Kashmir is a necklace with pearls of different religious beliefs. We will not allow anyone to dilute Kashmiriyat,” he added.
Abdullah lashed out at hardline Hurriyat chairman Syed Ali Shah Geelani, saying he is lying to the people on the issue of road widening or construction along the routes leading to holy cave shrine of Amarnath.
“The entire media has had an aerial tour and taken a firsthand look at the route and not found a single road being constructed anywhere. Where do they get this false information from?” he asked.
“It proves they want to destabilise the social fabric of the State by inciting people,” he said adding, “poor people in Pahalgam and Sonmarg earn their livelihood when these yatris perform darshan. I don’t understand why these leaders are hell bent to take away their livelihood.”
Admitting that LPG is a huge problem in the state keeping in view the harsh weather conditions, he said J&K should be considered as a special case.
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. (PTI)
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