Srinagar, April 25: Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, along with Cabinet Minister Javid Dar and Advisor to the Chief Minister Nasir Aslam Wani, met with tourists in the Rajbagh area on Friday and condemned the recent terror attack in Pahalgam that resulted in 26 fatalities and several injuries on April 22.
The Deputy CM referred to tourists as “ambassadors of Kashmir”, saying they will share their experiences of Kashmiri hospitality upon returning home.
“Tourists are the ambassadors of Kashmir. They will share how they were treated and supported by the people in Kashmir after the tragic events in Pahalgam. While the killings are painful, J&K is a place filled with peace and love,” he said. “We have been tasked by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to meet the tourists today.”
Chaudhary urged visitors to continue exploring Kashmir, assuring them of their safety under the Omar Abdullah-led government. “Although maintaining law and order is a challenge, the government and the people of Kashmir are committed to ensuring your safety,” he added.
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The Deputy Chief Minister acknowledged that while every society has people who create chaos, such incidents shouldn’t define the community as a whole. “At this moment, we need to strengthen our nation and preserve the brotherhood for which J&K is renowned,” he urged.
Advisor Nasir Wani called the killings in Pahalgam “unfortunate”. “We experience the same pain as you do, but we are doubly pained as this tragedy has occurred on our land.” He reaffirmed that the people of J&K are peace-loving and dedicated to promoting harmony.
Meanwhile, the tourists praised the hospitality shown by the local people here, saying that they have been supported and assisted by the people of Kashmir. “We have felt like home here,” they said.
Pertinently, 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed in a major terror attack in Pahalgam on Tuesday, with many others injured. (KNO)
