Deliberate attempt to destabilise Kashmir's economy: PDP leader

Srinagar: With Kashmir witnessing fresh unrest, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party on Saturday said there seems to be a deliberate and sinister attempt by vested interests to destabilise and subvert the local economy by fuelling violence. PDP youth president Waheed Para, who was advisor to former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, said all right-thinking people must close their ranks to prevent such vested interests from carrying out their nefarious designs. [caption id=“attachment_2732824” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. PTI[/caption] There seems to be a deliberate and sinister attempt by certain vested interests to keep the vicious cycle of violence going on in Kashmir and destabilise and subvert the local economy, he said in a statement. “We as Kashmiris have to ponder over the pattern of similar violent incidents that have always take place in almost in an akin manner whenever a new government assumes office in the State and at the onset of the tourist season in Kashmir,” the PDP leader said. Para has been at the centre of a controversy as he reportedly blamed the youth for attacking an army camp that led to death of one person and injuries to three others in Nathnusa area of Kupwara yesterday. Para, however, denied the statement attributed to him. “I only said that nothing could justify killing of civilians and we should expect justice to the families as the Army has already ordered a probe which needs to be taken to the logical conclusion to restore people’s confidence,” he said. Para urged youth to maintain calm and not to get provoked into such actions which only lead to a vicious cycle of death and destruction. “We have already lost a generation of our youth to the conflict and can’t afford another generation to fall prey to this vicious circle of violence,” he said. Para said such tragic incidents only undermine the government’s efforts to restore peace in the State which has undergone a “gory era of death and destruction” for the past more than two decades. Five persons were killed in the unrest that began on Tuesday following allegations of molestation of a girl in Handwara.