‘Srinagar: The Valley hoteliers and travel agents associations Monday condemned the raids conducted by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on the residences of businessmen in the valley.
Addressing a joint presser of various organizations including TAAK, TASK, Urban Travel Agents Association (UTAA), Houseboat Owners Association, Indian Travel Operators Association (IOTA) (Kashmir chapter), Hoteliers Club, Kashmir Tourism Alliance and others, Ghulam Rasool Siah, President of Houseboat Owners Association said, “the raids on the members who are linked with the tourism is condemnable. We are only concerned about the tourism sector. We don’t have any other concerns or links,” he said.
Siah said that they have so far worked hard to boost the tourism sector and have played a vital role in progress of this sector. “We are putting efforts to boost the tourism. How can we do any work, which is against our assets and against our community?,” he added.
Lashing out at National media, Siah said that the TV channels are telecasting the news and debates with an aim to destroy Kashmir.
“Every day, the national TV channels are giving worn impression about Kashmir, which has affected the tourism sector of the Valley,” he said.
Demanding complete ban on TV channels for telecasting valley based news, Siah said, “We have been saying since years that national TV must not telecast news about Kashmir. It should be banned for telecasting news about Kashmir to ensure the progress of Kashmir regarding tourism,” he said. (KNS)
