Will welcome cinema halls in JK: Omar

Srinagar, Dec 17: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, today (Dec 17) said his government will welcome setting up of cinema halls in the state but will not force anyone to do so.

"Cinema halls have always been a private sector enterprise. If anyone wants to set up a cinema hall in the state, the government will be happy to look into it," he told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.

However, the state government is neither in the business of setting up cinema halls nor will give subsidy to any such venture, he said. Cinema halls were closed in Kashmir Valley following attacks by militants in the early days of militancy in 1990.

Union Minister Farooq Abdullah, who is also National Conference president, had advocated reopening of cinema halls and liquor shops in Kashmir so that tourists visiting the Valley have more entertainment options. His statement had evoked sharp criticism from separatist groups and religious organisations in the Valley which said cinema and liquor were root causes of most social evils.

PTI