Kashmir-unrest orchestrated by those with vested interests, says CM

SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday said that the recent round of violence in Kashmir was orchestrated by those with vested interests and stakes in the unrest.

While visiting the families of the people killed during the ongoing crisis, Mehbooba said each time normalcy returns to the Valley, “internal and external forces gang up to destabilise Kashmir”.

“Whenever economic activity starts picking up in Kashmir due to increased tourism, several quarters with vested interest in a turmoil-hit Kashmir seem to gang up to orchestrate another spate of deadly violence and push the people (of the Valley) towards further economic deprivation,” a government spokesman quoted her saying.

Mehbooba said the violence that has currently destablised the state hits every aspect of the local economy, with the tourism and education sector being the worst-affected.

“There are reports that another round of educational migration has already started from the Valley with many affluent families preferring educational institutions outside Kashmir for their wards,” the CM said. She said people have to ponder over who is getting hurt the most because of the ongoing turmoil.

Seeking public cooperation in curbing the unrest, the CM appealed to the youth to “help the government in restoring peace so that the miseries of the people can go away”. “Violence has only brought destruction to our state and left behind a trail of tragedies in the shape of orphans and widows,” she said.