"Tourism is Our Livelihood": Padma Shri Artist Calls for Action After Pahalgam Attack

In less than 48 hours of the Pahalgam terror attack that left 25 tourists and a Kashmiri dead, scenes in the Valley have completely changed from what they were two days back. Flights to Srinagar are empty and those coming out of it are packed with people fleeing the Valley. The Dal Lake, a symbol of Kashmir's unequalled natural beauty, is deserted, a far cry from the bustling scenes two days ago. Shikaras, in high demand till two days ago, are now parked in what is likely to be a long wait for tourists.  Ghulam Rasool Khan, a Jamawar patchwork artist from Srinagar works towards conserving the oldest form of Kashmiri shawl technique. He won the Padma Shri in 2021. Condemning the attack in Pahalgam, he said security agencies must find out "who are the ones who spoil the atmosphere here". "The people here depend completely on tourism. That is the source of livelihood," he told NDTV. The artist urged the administration to make every attempt to catch those "wretched" perpetrators and bring them before the people. "Otherwise, after a point, everything is silent and something else happens." 

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