India: Protests against Tourist Crime in Bodh Gaya; Snake Charmers March; Srinagar Opens International Airport

By Larry Habegger | Permalink | No Comments | February 18th, 2009 | Trackback

In what may be the first protest of its kind in India, foreign tourists rallied against crime in Bodh Gaya, site of Buddha’s enlightenment and home to the Mahabodhi temple, a popular place for Buddha’s devotees. The protesters called for the deployment of tourist police to prevent crimes against tourists and to aid victims, citing poor police response and discourteous behavior as issues to address. In another protest in another city, nearly 1,000 snake charmers marched through the streets of Kolkata to demand the right to perform with live snakes, a practice that has been banned since 1991 but is still a common sight in tourist areas and villages. The Snake Charmers Federation of India says there are some 800,000 snake charmers in the country, and their traditional way of life is being threatened. Wildlife officials defend the ban, saying it has curbed abuse of snakes. In still other news, the Kashmiri capital of Srinagar opened its airport to international flights Feb. 14, a possible first step in renewing international tourism to the region. Initial service is a weekly flight from Dubai, with expansion planned in the future.

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