Commercial gains should not come at the cost of faith, culture: Mirwaiz

Hurriyat Conference chairman and Jamia Masjid chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Tuesday urged tourism industry players to act responsibly and stated commercial gains must not come at the cost of faith and culture. He was referring to a fashion show in Gulmarg last week, which sparked a major controversy in Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing the gathering at a shrine in Srinagar’s Khanyar, Mirwaiz said, “While authorities cannot be absolved of their responsibility, it is also a reality that those who facilitated and organised the event belong to our society itself, and are answerable for their actions.”

“These people should understand that their pursuit of profit at the cost of the region’s religious and cultural ethos sets a dangerous precedent and undermines this precious heritage which is the guiding force that keeps people on the right path. We do not need to do all this in the name of modernity,” he added.

Stating that God has blessed Kashmir with natural beauty and exquisite crafts, which are sufficient to sustain its people with dignity, Mirwaiz urged upon the hoteliers and tourism stakeholders to act responsibly and avoid such misadventures that harm the Valley’s heritage for financial gains.

Luxury fashion brand Shivan & Narresh, which had organised the fashion show also issued a formal apology after the event in Gulmarg triggered widespread outrage for disrespecting religious sentiments during the holy month of Ramadan.

The designers, known for their resort and ski-wear collections, faced strong criticism from religious leaders, politicians and locals after images and videos of models in revealing outfits went viral.

The issue also led to pandemonium during the ongoing Budget session of the J&K Legislative Assembly on Monday, with several legislators, including members of the National Conference, demanding a discussion on the fashion show.

CM Omar Abdullah clarified that the government had no involvement in the event, describing it as a “private affair.”