x

Like our Facebook Page

   
Early Times Newspaper Jammu, Leading Newspaper Jammu
 
Breaking News :   Back Issues  
 
news details
Issue-less NC, Hurriyat hawk join hands to oppose Kousarnag Yatra
Omar Abdullah weakest CM in JK's history: BJP
8/1/2014 12:22:01 AM
Fazal Khan
SRINAGAR, July 31: Kousarnag Yatra is all set to snowball into a major controversy as "issueless" National Conference and the Hurriyat hawk Syed Ali Shah Geelani have joined the chorus to oppose the yatra.
A handful of people have constituted Kousarnag Bachao Front, while the National Conference MLC and head of the State Environment Committee Dr Syed Bashir Ahmad Veeri were the first ones to oppose the move. The National Conference, which only managed to get lead in the nine Assembly constituencies in the recently held Parliamentary elections, wants to give a communal colour to yatra by joining a few people who seem to be hell bent upon destroying the secular fabric of the state.
All Parties Migrants' Coordination Committee, a group of migrant Pandits, has termed the historic Kousarnag (Kramsar-Vishnupaad) Yatra as the "most important religious duty. The Yatra, which is going on from Jammu side for the past four years, this year is being organized from Kashmir side and the pilgrims from both sides would meet at Kousarnag on Naag Panchami.
Several Kashmiri Pandit groups have come together to push for the Gangbal and Kousarnag pilgrimages.
Yatras and pilgrimages have been a part of the Kashmiri culture for hundreds of years and Muslims living in the Valley have always been instrumental in facilitating such yatras. Unfortunately some people with the vested interests are trying to give a communal colour to the ongoing Kousarnag Yatra. The Hurriyat hawk, Syed Ali Shah Geelani, who has become "irrelevant," today called for a general strike on Saturday across Kashmir to oppose the Yatra.
By giving a strike call he wants to remain in news. It seems he once again wants to pit Muslims against Pandits.
"Geelani calling for the strike has exposed his communal mindset. By giving a strike call he has pleased his bosses on the other side," said a senior Kashmir Pandit leader, wishing not to be named.
He alleged, "Geelani and people like him were responsible for the mass migration of the Kashmiri Pandits in 1990."
"As the situation is improving we are trying to relocate our roots. Kousarnag and Gangbal Yatras are just an attempt from our side to revive our religious places," the leader said.
Taking a dig at the National Conference MLC Syed Bashir Ahmad Veeri, the senior member of the All Parties Migrants' Coordination Committee, said, "NC has always ditched Kashmiri Pandits. NC senior leader has joined a few miscreants to appease hardliners in south Kashmir. By doing so Bashir is indulging in dirty politicking to garner votes."
Kashmir based spokesman of the Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) Altaf Thakur while talking to Early Times said, "No one should oppose this yatra. It's a sacred place for Kashmiri Pandits and they should be allowed to go there. People opposing this yatra are the real enemies of people of Jammu and Kashmir and are trying to polarize the masses on religious lines."
Thakur said, "History stands testimony to the fact that National Conference has always adopted a dual policy vis-a-vis Kashmiri Pandits. Omar Abdullah is the weakest Chief Minister Jammu and Kashmir ever had. He has no control over his people."
Pertinently, the Kousarnag Yatra officially commenced on July 28. Kousarnag is one of the highest altitude springs of Kashmir situated on a cliff some 30 kilometers from Aharbal. The spring shimmers with fresh, crystal clear glacial waters. Kousarnag covers an area of five kilometers in length and two and a half kilometers of scintillating water expanse in breadth, covered almost entirely by mountains on its periphery.
The 30-kilometre terrain from Aharbal to Kousarnag is a trekker's delight. The trail follows ancient routes, trodden for centuries by Gujjar and Bakerwal nomads. Leaving behind the alpine grandeur of Aharbal, the track passes through Kungewattan, the overnight camping spot. Kungewattan encompasses a series of plain landmass. It takes two days to reach Kousarnag from the base - Aharbal by foot.
  Share This News with Your Friends on Social Network  
  Comment on this Story  
 
 
 
Early Times Android App
STOCK UPDATE
  
BSE Sensex
NSE Nifty
 
CRICKET UPDATE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
Home About Us Top Stories Local News National News Sports News Opinion Editorial ET Cetra Advertise with Us ET E-paper
 
 
J&K RELATED WEBSITES
J&K Govt. Official website
Jammu Kashmir Tourism
JKTDC
Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board
Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board
Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board
UTILITY
Train Enquiry
IRCTC
Matavaishnodevi
BSNL
Jammu Kashmir Bank
State Bank of India
PUBLIC INTEREST
Passport Department
Income Tax Department
JK CAMPA
JK GAD
IT Education
Web Site Design Services
EDUCATION
Jammu University
Jammu University Results
JKBOSE
Kashmir University
IGNOU Jammu Center
SMVDU