Srinagar: Tangmarg Gulmarg tourist guide association on Monday called on J&K Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) President Tariq Hameed Karra in Srinagar and apprised him about the unfavourable & unfriendly behavior meted out to them for some time on the part of authorities.
The association apprised Tariq Hameed Karra that earlier they used to carry tourists to Afarwat hassle-free, which facilitated them to earn their livelihood with dignity, but now they are being stopped on the pretext of rush or no capacity at phase Ist and for IInd phase they are being asked to pay money. When Ist phase rush is the reason for not allowing them then why they are being asked to pay for 2nd phase, which shows the callous attitude of the concerned official.
They also apprised that they are being frisked and asked to show IDs uninterrupted amounting to humiliation to tourists and them as well.
Tariq Hameed Karra expressed grave concern over this unfortunate development and said the tourist guide in Gulmarg had hassle-free passage to both the Ist and IInd phases of Afarwat, what happened now, why they are being asked to pay money for and allowed towards phase Ist when the is no rush according to the officials. It is a confusing situation created over there.
He said one fails to understand why these poor people are being pushed towards starvation, and what is their fault. It reflects anti-guide association sentiment on the part of authorities at Gulmarg, which is not only unfortunate but highly condemnable.
While assuring the association that he (Karra) would take up the matter with the Govt, the JKPCC President strongly urged the authorities not to assault the livelihood of tourist guides and not to force them to show IDs or frisk them step by step. Such a treatment shall add more unemployment.
