Deal Jamaat-e-Islami with heavy hand, Arun Jaitley tells J&K government

JAMMU: Asserting that organisations like the Jamaat-e-Islami are always trying to create disruptive activities in Jammu and Kashmir, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley today said that it is for the state government to deal with them with a heavy hand.

"These are organisations which are always trying to create disruptive activities in the state", Jaitley told reporters here today.

Jaitley, who along with top central leadership of BJP today laid the foundation stone of Shyama Prasad Mookerjee Bhawan here today said, "it is for the state government to deal with them with a heavy hand".

He was replying to a volley of questions on the diktat given by the Jamaat pronouncing dress code for domestic and foreign tourists visiting Kashmir Valley.

On July 3, the Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir warned the tourists visiting Kashmir Valley to face angry reactions if they failed to desist from wearing 'skimpy' dresses while visiting Kashmir.

The statement has been condemned by several organisations and political outfits.

"Some tourists, mostly foreigners, are seen wandering in short mini-skirts and other objectionable dresses which is against local ethos and culture. This is not acceptable to the civil society at all," the Jamaat, a politico-religious organisation, had said in a statement here.

Kashmir Valley is witnessing a surge in tourist arrivals over the last two years.

Nearly 15 lakh visitors arrived here last year and over five lakh tourists have visited the Valley this year so far.

Replying to another question about his reaction to the Supreme Court judgement concerning BSP chief Mayawati and failure of CBI to build up a case against her, Jaitley said "I cannot comment on it without reading the decision--It is common sense, one has to know about it before commenting on it".