Separatists'' plea to tourists: Visit Valley, enjoy its beauty

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, December 6

The separatist leadership today appealed to tourists and pilgrims to visit the Kashmir valley, terming it as “paradise on earth”, and promising to safeguard their rights in a desperate attempt to kick-start the dormant tourism sector in the region.

In a joint statement, Syed Ali Geelani, Yasin Malik and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq — the three separatist leaders steering the ongoing unrest — said the people of Kashmir had been “safeguarding and providing exemplary hospitality and safety to tourists and yatris”.

“We have been taught hospitality, humanity and safeguarding the rights of guests by our great religion. Tourists and yatris from the world, including India, who intend to visit Kashmir are most welcome,” the separatist leaders said. “We invite them to come to Kashmir and enjoy our hospitality and the beauty of paradise on earth,” they said.

The appeal from the separatists has come at a time when the Kashmir region is slowly limping out from the impact of unrest, which is nearing the completion of its fifth month. The unrest has had a devastating effect on the region’s tourism sector as footfall of holidaymakers hit a zero while the Valley was paralysed by protests and shutdown.

The separatist trio said they “wholeheartedly” welcomed the tourists and pilgrims who intended to visit Kashmir. “Our religion Islam and the prophet of Islam have taught us to be kind with our guests and serve them and safeguard their rights at every cost. This is also embedded in our Kashmiri culture and ethics and that is why our hospitality has been exemplary throughout the history,” they said.

“Millions of tourists from the world, including India, have been visiting Kashmir from centuries and enjoying the mesmerising beauty of this paradise on earth,” the separatists said.

“Our history shows that we as a nation have always stood firm with these ethics and teachings and we have always respected, safeguarded and served our guest during hardest of times and worst calamities,” they said.