Pahalgam, June 10, KNT: Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said that ensuring the safety of Amarnath Yatris is not just a matter for the police or paramilitary forces but a collective responsibility of the people of Kashmir, particularly those living along the pilgrimage route.
Speaking at a meeting in the picturesque Pahalgam resort in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, Mufti interacted with party workers and stakeholders ahead of the annual Amarnath Yatra, which is scheduled to begin next month. She emphasized the need for a people-led approach to safeguarding the yatra.
“The real responsibility of protecting the yatris lies with you—the locals. More than the government forces, it is the people of Kashmir, especially from areas like Pahalgam, who must ensure their safety,” Mehbooba told participants at the gathering.
She said she had specially invited PDP workers from regions situated along the yatra route and urged them to actively support the peaceful conduct of the pilgrimage.
“We have always welcomed the Amarnath Yatris with open arms, and that tradition must not only continue but also grow stronger,” she said. “It is only by ensuring the pilgrimage goes smoothly that confidence can return, and with that, tourism will revive.”
Referring to the deadly April 22 attack in Pahalgam, which disrupted the region’s tourism prospects, Mehbooba said that thousands of locals, including ponywallas, hoteliers, cab drivers, and shopkeepers, have been pushed into financial distress. Many, she added, are burdened by loans taken from banks to sustain their livelihoods.
She appealed to both the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, and the newly formed elected government to take urgent measures to help revive the local economy. [KNT]
