SRINAGAR, July 6: Senior Kashmiri separatist leader on Friday expressed concern over government’s plans to woo more and more Israeli tourists to the valley.
The statement of Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, who is also the head of the moderate faction of separatist allaince Hurriyat conference, comes just days after a politico-religious group – Jamaat-e-Islami – advised tourists visiting the Muslim majority region to wear ‘proper’ clothes taking care of the ‘local culture and ethos’.
“Isreal is one of the biggest enemies of Islam and we see a design in all this,” Mirwaiz said.
The separatist leader said Kashmir have always wholeheartedly welcomed tourists, including Hindu pilgrims, and have treated them “as guests ought to be”. But Muslims all the world have problems with with Israel due to its aggressive policy towards Palestine, he said.
“Government has to explain why it is encouraging Israelis to visit Kashmir,” the Mirwaiz told a congregation at Jamia Masjid – the region’s main Mosque – on Friday.
Mirwaiz was reacting to tourism department conducting road shows in Israel to promote tourism.
Artists and officials from the state had taken part in a road show in Israel to promote Kashmir as an international tourist destination.
Sponsored by central government, Jammu and Kashmir was a part of a contingent of about 18 states which participated in the road show last month.
“The road show is part of a big conspiracy, which is saddening for not only the Muslims of Kashmir but the whole world including Palestine,” the separatist leader said.
Following a sharp decline in violence involving security forces and militants, Kashmir is witnessing a tourist boom with atleats half a million tourists having visited in the first four months if the tourist season.
Last year valley hosted a record number of 1.3 million tourists which was an all-time high in the tourism industry of Kashmir.
