The Hindu : National : President visits Gulmarg, attends music concert

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President visits Gulmarg, attends music concert

Shujaat Bukhari

Hurriyat strike hits normal life

SRINAGAR: President Pratibha Patil, who is on a five-day official visit to Jammu and Kashmir visited Gulmarg on Saturday, where she will spend the night.

A general strike, called by separatists, to protest against her visit and the arrival of a Pakistan band “Junoon” and a delegation of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) civil society, affected the normal life in Srinagar and other major towns.

Official sources said that Ms Patil flew to Gulmarg, the famous tourist spot in north Kashmir and enjoyed a ride on Gondola, the world’s highest cable car.

She was quoting as saying that Gulmarg was a beautiful place and she would like to come again. She also attended a musical concert and interacted with people. After a night halt she is scheduled to fly on Sunday to Bhaderwah, home town of Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, where she will attend a function at University campus. She will, however, return to Srinagar the same day and will inaugurate Institute of Kashmir Studies at University of Kashmir on Monday.

Tight security

Reports said that tight security arrangements had been made for President’s visit and movement of locals as well as tourists was banned for several hours.

Meanwhile the strike called by hard-line Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Geelani affected the normal life in Kashmir as it evoked near total response.

Mr. Geelani had called for a strike to protest against Ms. Patil’s visit saying that she was the Supreme Commander of Armed Forces, which according him were involved in human rights violations in the State.

He had also resented the arrival of civil society delegates from the SAARC countries, who are here to attend the inauguration of IKS and watch the musical concert by Lahore based “Junoon” under the aegis of South Asian Foundation.

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