“If Khelo India is under tight security, how was this fashion show allowed?”
Srinagar : Hakeem Muhammad Yaseen, President of Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Front (PDF) and former minister, on Monday strongly criticized the government for claiming ignorance about the controversial fashion show held in Gulmarg during the holy month of Ramzan.
In a statement issued here on Monday Hakeem while terming the Government’s stance as highly irresponsible Hakeem questioned how Chief Minister Omar Abdullah could be unaware of such an event when he holds the tourism portfolio. “It is a matter of serious concern. How can the Chief Minister claim he was not aware of the event? If he doesn’t know what is happening under his watch, what kind of governance is this? How can we expect such a government to safeguard the interests of the people?” he asked. Hakeem also raised concerns about the security protocols under which such an event was conducted, given that Khelo India Winter Games in Gulmarg are being held under tight security. “If security agencies are meticulously screening activities in Gulmarg, how was this fashion show allowed? Who granted the permission? The government owes an explanation to the people,” he asserted. Reacting to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s statement in the Assembly, where he claimed the government had no role in organizing the event and that it was held at a private venue, Hakeem Yaseen said such clarifications were insufficient. He demanded an impartial probe into how the event was approved and who facilitated it.
“Merely distancing the government from the controversy is not enough. The administration must reveal who authorized the event and under what pretext it was allowed to proceed,” he stated. He further criticized the government for failing to uphold the sentiments of the people and questioned whether such events were part of a larger agenda to erode Kashmir’s cultural and religious identity. “The people of Kashmir will not tolerate such blatant disregard for their beliefs and values. This government has repeatedly shown that it is disconnected from the aspirations and sensitivities of the people,” he added. Hakeem urged the administration to take swift action against those responsible for permitting the controversial event. “This is a direct affront to the religious sentiments of the people. The government must take immediate corrective measures and ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future,” he added.
