State Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu Tuesday said that the freedom movement in Kashmir started from reading rooms.He said that Kashmiri culture will counter the ongoing radicalization of youth.On the sidelines of the inaugural function here at Kitab Ghar, Drabu said that the reading rooms are very essential for everyone and these rooms have given birth to freedom movement.“The history of Kashmir clearly shows that the freedom movement has started from the reading rooms in Kashmir and we will try to make more reading rooms available here.”Drabu said that the government has not much resources available to make hundreds of reading rooms here but they will develop a model of public-private partnership to make more and more reading rooms available in the state.
On his statement that radicalization of Kashmir youth will be countered by the Kashmir culture, Drabu said, “The revival of Kashmiri culture, which is very rich, is the only solution to stop radicalization in the state. The way currently we are currently going will definitely help us to achieve our goal.”While talking about the flood package to the fruit growers who rejected the announced amount, Drabu said that it has been assessed by the various groups so far and with the same the announced package to them is satisfactory.Drabu said that the power curtailment would continue in the state as the government is having a 400 MW deficit. “The total power capacity is 100 MW and we are providing 100 MW out of it but the only way to end the deficit is to ensure some cuts and the same is currently going on,” Drabu said.He further said that until and unless the power deficit won’t end, the power curtailment will continue. (KNS)