Ajay Jandyal
Srinagar, Jan 12: Ahead of the inauguration of the Kashmir rail link, National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah’s tweet has sparked a heated debate, as he raised concerns over proposed changes in the train operations. In a social media post, Abdullah argued that forcing passengers to change trains would undermine the purpose of the railway line and render the substantial investment in the project pointless.
“Just to remove any chance of misunderstanding, while we understand the need to secure the train and the passengers, making passengers change trains will defeat the very purpose of the line and render the thousands of crores of investment pointless,” Abdullah wrote in his tweet. He further emphasized, “Check the train/passengers in Katra or Jammu, sure, but NO change of train will be supported by us. That said, there is no concrete proposal, and when there is, we will provide our inputs and suggestions.”
This tweet followed hours after the former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister spoke to a local portal, reiterating the importance of ensuring the security of the train and its passengers, a sentiment he mentioned was shared by the people of the region.
In response to Abdullah’s tweet, former Deputy Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Kavinder Gupta countered, stressing the responsibility of the security agencies. “Omar is sitting on a responsible chair, and he should not be under pressure. He must understand that the agencies operating the train and deployed for security have to ensure the safety of every life. Let them handle it,” Gupta remarked, defending the security measures under consideration for the train service.
The controversy stems from ongoing discussions about the security arrangements for the train service, which aims to enhance connectivity in the region. While securing the train is paramount, the debate over operational procedures and their impact on passenger convenience remains a contentious issue.
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