Kashmir tourism director goes over ‘drunken’ speech

Tribune News Service

Jammu, November 1

The state administration has removed Tassaduq Jeelani from the post of Director, Tourism (Kashmir), after a speech that he delivered in an allegedly inebriated condition went viral.

An order issued on Thursday by the General Administration Department (GAD) stated that Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan would hold charge of the post till further orders.

“The Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, shall conduct a fact-finding inquiry into the incident reported to have occurred during the recent event organised by the tourism department under the ‘Kashmir Familiarisation tour’ from October 25 to October 27. Report to be submitted to GAD within 10 days,” read the order.

In the video that went viral on social media, Jeelani is heard addressing an audience of tourists and tourism stakeholders during a promotional event in Gulmarg. “Don’t think I know nothing of this (tourism) department. This is the smallest department for me, which I have enjoyed since two months. I have great vision for tourism promotion in Kashmir,” Jeelani says in the video clip.

Apparently drunk, he is also heard complaining about some officials and bureaucrats for not attending the event. “They are still sleeping in bed while I am here”.

Meanwhile, a senior tourism official has said: “It was an embarrassing moment for all those present at the event. The speech was recorded by audiences and uploaded on Facebook and Twitter. A high-ranking official making a senseless speech is a bad thing for our efforts to promote tourism.”

Secretary, Tourism, Rigzin Samphel said he was yet to see the video. “I have not seen the video. I am on leave,” he said.