SRINAGAR: Senior PDP minister Naeem Akhtar on Wednesday said that the Jammu and Kashmir government would take steps to re-open cinema halls across the valley to provide genuine entertainment to the people and sought cooperation from all sections of the society to make this possible.
Apart from ordering the shutting down of all liquor shops. JKLF militants had in 1990 force-stopped cinema halls from functioning in the valley. Former J&K chief minister Farooq Abdullah tried reopening three cinema halls - Regal, Neelam and Broadway, in Srinagar in 1999, but the militants hurled grenades at the cinema halls despite heavy security, leaving several film-goers injured.
The attack rattled cinema hall owners into shutting down again despite financial aid from the then state government for renovation and repairs. Akhtar, who is also the PDP spokesman, said the people of Kashmir have denied their children entertainment for years.
"Today, our children, who are even 20-30 year old, have not seen any films in the city. We have denied them. There are cinemas across the world," Akhtar told reporters on the sidelines of a film festival at Tagore Hall here.
Akhtar said he failed to understand why the people of Kashmir feel negative about cinema halls despite the existence of cinema across the world and even in countries like Pakistan.
"There are cinemas across the world. Even in Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia is opening theatres in Riyadh. I don't know why people feel so negative about cinemas here?" he wondered.
The J&K works minister, referring to television, said these are the days of home theatres. "Television is itself a form of cinema. Your mobile phone in your pocket is also cinema. I don't know why are we being stopped from going into cinema halls," he said, adding, "our government would definitely take steps towards restoration of cinema halls in Kashmir.
"But until and unless all the people of society join hands, it won't happen. For how long we will keep our children away from genuine entertainment," he asked.
Apart from ordering the shutting down of all liquor shops. JKLF militants had in 1990 force-stopped cinema halls from functioning in the valley. Former J&K chief minister Farooq Abdullah tried reopening three cinema halls - Regal, Neelam and Broadway, in Srinagar in 1999, but the militants hurled grenades at the cinema halls despite heavy security, leaving several film-goers injured.
The attack rattled cinema hall owners into shutting down again despite financial aid from the then state government for renovation and repairs. Akhtar, who is also the PDP spokesman, said the people of Kashmir have denied their children entertainment for years.
"Today, our children, who are even 20-30 year old, have not seen any films in the city. We have denied them. There are cinemas across the world," Akhtar told reporters on the sidelines of a film festival at Tagore Hall here.
Akhtar said he failed to understand why the people of Kashmir feel negative about cinema halls despite the existence of cinema across the world and even in countries like Pakistan.
"There are cinemas across the world. Even in Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia is opening theatres in Riyadh. I don't know why people feel so negative about cinemas here?" he wondered.
The J&K works minister, referring to television, said these are the days of home theatres. "Television is itself a form of cinema. Your mobile phone in your pocket is also cinema. I don't know why are we being stopped from going into cinema halls," he said, adding, "our government would definitely take steps towards restoration of cinema halls in Kashmir.
"But until and unless all the people of society join hands, it won't happen. For how long we will keep our children away from genuine entertainment," he asked.
Get latest news & live updates on the go on your pc with News App. Download The Times of India news app for your device.
