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Tourists can visit Kashmir from today


Bangladeshpost
Published : 09 Oct 2019 07:16 PM | Updated : 07 Sep 2020 05:57 PM

Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Monday directed for lifting of an over two-month-old advisory, which asked tourists to leave the valley.

“The governor directed that the Home Department's advisory asking tourists to leave the Valley be lifted immediately. This will be done with effect from October 10," an official spokesman said.

The state administration on 2 August had issued a security advisory asking Amarnath pilgrims and tourists to leave Kashmir as soon as possible, citing terror threat in the Valley, report agencies.

The advisory was issued just before the Centre announced the negation of the Article 370 of the constitution and bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories on August 5.

The spokesman said the governor issued the directive at a 'Situation cum Security Review' meeting with the advisors and the chief secretary here. The advisory was issued on August 2, days before the issuance of the presidential order revoking the special status of Jammu and Kashmir, negating the Article 370 of the Constitution.

Malik issued the directive for lifting the security advisory for tourists at a "situation-cum-security review' meeting with the advisors and the chief secretary here, an official spokesman said.

He said the governor was also informed that as Block Development Council (BDC) elections, scheduled to be held on October 24, are party-based, the delegations of parties having their leaders in jail are being allowed to meet party presidents once so that they can take decision on elections and authorise someone to approve candidates.

 “The governor directed that the Home Department's advisory asking tourists to leave the valley be lifted immediately. This will be done with effect from October 10,” the spokesman said.

The state administration had on August 2 issued a security advisory asking Amarnath pilgrims and tourists to leave Kashmir as soon as possible, citing terror threat in the Valley. The governor has been holding situation-cum-security review meetings daily for two hours generally from 6 to 8 pm since August 5.

The meetings initially focused on reviewing the security scenario after imposition of restrictions in the wake of constitutional changes, the spokesman said. During the past six weeks, he said, all security restrictions were lifted in the most parts of Jammu and Kashmir and the governor has been focusing on bringing life back to normal.

Some of the major decisions taken in the past in the situation-cum-security review meetings include reopening of higher secondary schools, colleges and universities, restarting public transport and opening of additional travel counters at Srinagar's Tourist Reception Centre, the spokesman said.