Kashmir slams Farooq's 'wine, cinema' remark

There are dozens of cinema houses in Kashmir Valley.

Broadway Cinema located in the high security zone of Batwara, Srinagar was made functional a few years ago. However it was shut by the owner because people in lesser numbers used to visit it.

In order to give an impression that peace has returned in the Valley, the higher ups according to sources motivated the Regal Cinema owner located in the centre of Srinagar city to run the shows some 8 years ago.

On the very first day, when people were coming out from the Regal Cinema, militants hurled a grenade on the yard of the cinema which resulted in the killing of many people.

Mohammad Hafiz Rather from Lasjan was one of the people who lost their lives in that grenade attack.

His son Aqib, who is just 19, told IBNS that he feels ashamed that his father was killed in that grenade attack.

"'My father was an auto driver. He was not fond of watching movies but that day the show was free to all and it may have motivated my father," he said.

When asked why he feels ashamed, Aqib said, "You know, people have laid their lives for 'good cause' in Kashmir. They fought against the Indian Army and got martyred. But how can I reveal that my father got killed while coming out from a cinema house!"

Soon after the grenade attack, the Regal Cinema was closed once for all and was turned into a shopping complex.

Similarly, Neelam cinema was also operational for sometime but during the last years´ unrest, that too was closed down due to heavy public pressure.

Almost all the cinema houses of Kashmir Valley have turned into Nursing Homes or wear a deserted look. Some have been occupied by the Security Forces.

Palladium Cinema is in shambles while Firdous, Neelam and Shah Cinema houses are under Security Forces occupation.

Same is the case with wine shops. Only few shops at Dalgate and Batawara areas of Srinagar can be seen doing their business.

Ghulam Mohammad, a boatman, told IBNS that majority of the people who visit these wine shops are locals, mostly auto and sumo drivers.

"Tourists too visit to these wine shops but majority are of locals," he said.

One of the cinema owners told IBNS that he suffered heavy loses due to closure of his house some two decades before.

"Though the government at the time offered me security to run my business but the situation was such that people were dying and no one was interested in entertainment. I thought it was better to vacate than to attract viewers.," he said.

Majority of Facebook users are coming down heavily on Farooq Abdullah for his recent statement over the opening of cinemas and wine shops.

Heated arguments can be seen on this social networking site between the friends.

Some are calling it a right step while most of the Kashmiri users condemn it.

Meanwhile, Omar Abdullah has come in support of his father saying that even in Islamic countries, cinemas are functional and there is ´nothing wrong if we open them up in Kashmir as well´.

Syed Ali Shah Geelani while talking to IBNS said that Kashmir is a ´sacred planet´ and ´immorality has no place´ here.

"Do you think tourists come here for wine and cinema? No, it's absolutely wrong. They are attracted to the beauty of this land and saying that tourists need wine and cinema is all foolishness and a move to degrade society. We will not allow such move," Geelani told IBNS.

An unemployed educated youth, Munib-ul-Islam, while coming down heavily on Union Minister Farooq Abdullah, told IBNS that instead of talking about cinemas and wine shops he should devise ways and means to curb unemployment in the state.

"Every one knows he is a non-serious politician. He doesn't know when to utter what. It's better not to take his statements seriously," he said.

Meanwhile, the debate over the opening up of cinemas is going on and the tussle between the government and separatist leaders may take a bad shape, if things are not sorted out as soon as possible.