SRINAGAR: Chief of All India Imam Organisation Umer Ahmed Ilyasi, during his visit to Kashmir on Friday, praised the Centre for abrogation of Article 370 claiming that there would be a 'ghar wapsi' of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to India.
“After revocation of Article 370, there is a new Kashmir. I feel happy that today’s Kashmir is a new and changing Kashmir. There is prosperity in Kashmir and tourism has increased. People are prosperous. There was a time when youth used to resort to stone pelting, today they hold pens. Children are studying,” Ilyasi told reporters in Srinagar.
“I want to tell you that after the Pahalgam terror attack, the tourism sector was hit. I want to tell people that Kashmir is safe for everybody and people should visit the place. There is no fear here and people should not feel scared,” he said.
Ilyasi, who visited the revered Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar, said, “From here in Kashmir, I want to tell my neighbouring country (Pakistan) that PoK, which is an integral part of India, will definitely become part of India.”
He said the population of PoK wants to do a referendum as after seeing the development in Kashmir, they want to return to India.
“PoK residents want to return to India. PoK will soon join India,” Ilyasi said.
He also praised J&K Waqf Board chairperson Dr Darakshan Andrabi, who is a senior BJP leader.
"I am highly impressed by the work for. It has opened my eyes. Her work has turned J&K Waqf Board into a model for all of us," the chief cleric said.