J&K former Chief Minister and National Conference Vice-President Omar Abdullah Thursday reacted strongly to the restrictions announced by the authorities in Kashmir valley disallowing religious gatherings to mark Shab-e-Qadr and Jumat-ul-Vida at the historic Jamia Masjid Srinagar.
Sharing his angst over such restrictions Omar told reporters at the party headquarters in Srinagar, the present situation in Kashmir was "far from normal".
"If the claims of normalcy in the valley by the government are true, why are Shab-e-Qadr and Jumat-ul-Vida prayers barred at historic Jamia
Masjid?
He maintained, "either it is an artificial normalcy or the one being portrayed by the government itself. The fact is that the situation is far from normal".
Referring to the increasing number of tourist footfalls in different parts of Kashmir valley Omar said that "linking tourist arrivals with normalcy won't do".
"Tourism can't be linked with normalcy. The government, if not by its words but by its action, is proving that the situation is too far from normal."
Over the prevailing power crisis, Omar said the pesky power cuts during Sehri and Iftaar time "is either a deliberate attempt by the government or just its incompetence and it the government that can explain what it was".
He said power breakdown is also at its peak in Jammu region.