Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 18: Former minister and senior Congress leader Yogesh Sawhney today strongly condemned the J&K UT Government for reducing visiting hours of the tourists to Chashma Shahi gardens and historic Pari Mahal.
In a press statement Sawhney criticized UT Administration for fixing the timings of Chashma Shahi gardens between 10:00 am and 5:00 pm and said that while all gardens remain open till 8:00 pm, the Chashma Shahi gardens are shut for the public at 5:00 PM merely for bureaucratic convenience.
He stated that these restrictions on visiting hours have never existed before, even during the peak of militancy in the region. Today, the place attracts tourists in massive number and yet the LG Government has placed this barrier. Chasma Shahi is a beautiful cultural spot as one of the Mughal gardens built back in 1632. However, after 5 PM people are not allowed to enter here. On the other hand, the government attempts to paint a picture of normalcy in Kashmir.
Sawhney further added that this is the result of bureaucrats misusing their powers to their own benefit and for their own convenience. The timings have been set keeping in mind that the bureaucrats and officials aren’t disturbed. This is a very wrong step as far as people are concerned and the LG government should rethink on this immediately and change the timings.
He further stated that the bureaucrats are taking advantage of their seemingly unquestioned power in Srinagar on account of the lack of an elected government. From the smallest of decisions to the biggest ones, policies in J&K are not being made bearing public welfare in mind, but rather BJP’s interests or the government’s interests are given priority.
“We strongly criticise the handling of a place of such historical importance by the J&K government in this manner. On the one hand, government tries to sell the idea of working for the betterment of Jammu and Kashmir, to promote tourism and employment. On the other hand, there are no steps being taken to tap into the potential of Srinagar as a tourist spot,” he said.
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