After Saudi Arabia government decided to lift a decade-long ban on opening of cinema halls in the country, both the partners of coalition government in Jammu and Kashmir have favoured reopening of the cinema halls in the Valley.
“I welcome the decision by Saudi Arabia to lift a decade-long ban on cinemas as part of a series of social reforms by the crown prince. Introspection and self reform are marks of a progressive society,” Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said after the Saudi government lifted ban on opening of cinema halls in the country.
All cinema halls in Valley have remained shut after eruption of militancy in early 1990s as militants imposed blanket ban on cinema halls. In between the government made efforts to reopen some cinema halls in Srinagar but those were also closed due to the security concerns. As of now, no cinema hall is open in the Valley.
While addressing “India Ideas Conclave 2017” at Panaji recently, Mehbooba said she was nostalgic about the time when she would bunk college as a youngster and watched films in Srinagar.
“The youngsters living in Srinagar today do not know about the joys of watching films in cinema halls because of bans by militants on cinema halls. I feel Jammu and Kashmir students are deprived of something so joyful,” she said.
The ruling PDP’s vice president Sartaj Madani has said the party and government favours re-opening of cinema halls in Kashmir.
“When Saudi Arabia can open cinemas, why there is reluctance in Kashmir? For how long will we deny our children the usual means of entertainment and enjoyment in their lives,” he has said.
The State BJP spokesman, Arun Gupta told New Indian Express that the party wants reopening of cinemas in Valley as cinema is the medium of entertainment for the people.
“It is a big source of entertainment. After working for the day, people need entertainment and it is possible by watching a movie in a cinema hall,” he said.
Gupta said films gives inspiration and direction to the people and cinema is the best guide for the people.
Asked whether the government would take other parties into confidence on opening of cinema halls in Valley, he said, “It is not a political issue that we need consensus”.
The BJP spokesman said the government has suggested that cinema halls should be reopened.
“The cinema hall owners in the Valley should come forward with proposal about the problems being faced by them so that these can be looked by the government,” he said.
According to Gupta, people in Valley too favour opening of the cinema halls.
“When people from Valley visit Jammu and other parts of country, they visit the cinema halls to watch movies. This means that people want entertainment also”.
However, opposition National Conference spokesman Imran Nabi Dar said the decision to re-open cinema halls in Valley lies with the government.
“As per my opinion, there are other more important things than opening of cinema halls. It is better to concentrate on those things,” he said.
Imran said everyday human rights violations are taking place in the Valley. “We all want normalcy to return and cinema is an important factor. However, when the whole society is under stress, the priority of government should not be to open cinema halls but to take steps to heal wounds of people and restore peace”.
