Faizan Ahmad
SRINAGAR, March 12 (KINS): Rebutting media reports and statements of various political parties, authorities Thursday clarified there has been no dropping of “Sher-I-Kashmir” from Sher-I-Kashmir International Conference Centre.
There were recently media reports that Jammu and Kashmir administration has dropped “Sher-I-Kashmir, the title attributed to former prime minister and chief minister of J&K Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah from Sher-I-Kashmir International Conference Centre and renamed it as Kashmir International Conference Centre.
However, authorities rebutted media reports and statements of political parties that name of Sher-I-Kashmir International Conference Centre has been changed.
“The status quo of Sher-I-Kashmir International Conference Centre is maintained. There has been no dropping of Sher-I-Kashmir from Sher-I-Kashmir International Conference Centre,” Director SKICC Bakshi Javeed told Kashmir Indepth News Service.
“There are three name plates fixed outside the SKICC gate. On two name plates, it is still mentioned Sher-I-Kashmir International Conference Centre. While the third name plate has been erroneously fixed 15-years-ago where it is mentioned only Kashmir International Conference Centre. Someone has recently clicked picture of this name plate and later appeared in the media although it is there since long. There has been no remaining of SKICC. It’s name is still Sher-I-Kashmir International Conference Centre not Kashmir International Conference Centre,” Bakshi clarified.
Kashmir Indepth News Service team also saw that “Sher-I-Kashmir” was still carried on two name plates outside the gate of SKICC.
After media reports, political parties had also slammed the J&K administration for “renaming” of Sher-I-Kashmir International Conference Centre.
SKICC is located on the banks of the famous Dal Lake overlooking the Zabarwan mountains in the backdrop and in the neighborhood of Mughal Gardens. The state-managed convention center has hosted a number of international and national level conferences like interstate council meet, an international laparoscopic conference among others.