Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra on Tuesday created a flutter at a tourism event here by asking Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti if she considered slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani a terrorist, and said that tourism and terrorism cannot go together.
Mishra refused to share the stage with Mehbooba and walked out of the event after making his comments.
"Can tourism and terrorism go together? How will tourism grow in India? Before leaving she (Mehbooba) has to tell us if she considers Burhan Wani and Afzal Guru terrorists," Mishra said.
Some people in the gathering stood up to protest and asked Mishra to desist from making such remarks.
But the minister said he would leave only after saying what he has to, and it would not take much time.
"It cannot happen that you (Mehbooba) do not accept that Burhan Wani was a terrorist, and seek boost in tourism," Mishra said.
"You say Afzal Guru is not a terrorist, and that he should not be hanged. And then you seek boost in tourism. How will tourism grow? It won't grow," he added.
"There are some very strong emotions that I want to share. It is very painful that terrorists are being treated as tourists in Kashmir. When they (terrorists) attacked Baramulla, two of them ran away. Where have they gone? Someone must have given them shelter," Mishra said. He was referrring to the Sunday night terror attack on an army camp in Baramulla, in which one BSF trooper was killed and one injured.
"Last year in November, there was Pakistan flag on Mehbooba Mufti's house. When Burhan Wani was killed, Mehbooba said had she known about the operation, she wouldn't have let him be killed; that it was a mistake," Mishra added.
"I don't feel like sharing the stage with Mehbooba Mufti, I will go out," he said before walking out of the event.
He was speaking at 'Bharat International Travel Bazaar', which was attended by Mehbooba Mufti and Delhi Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung.
Delhi government was a co-host of the event.
Later, addressing reporters, Mishra said, "If Mehbooba doesn't answer these questions then the BJP will have to answer. What is the compulsion to keep such people on the chair who don't love the nation, and don't recognise Burhan and Afzal as terrorists."
"Why is BJP supporting those who give shelter to the terrorists," he asked.
Asked if the party agrees with his views, the Delhi Minister said that not just his party, but the entire nation, including Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), is asking these questions.
"Who is giving shelter to terrorists? There are people who sympathise with terrorists and these people include Mehbooba Mufti. We all know it," he said.
"Mehbooba Mufti is anti-national... She is not willing to say 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'. She is not willing to say Burhan Wani and Afzal Guru are terrorists. It is betrayal of the nation to keep her sitting on the CM's chair," he added.
--IANS
vv-am/rn/vm
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
