news details |
|
|
| Mystery shrouds tampering of lingam | | |
Jammu, July 4: Even though several thousands of staunch devotees continue to trek the arduous mountains every day to pay obeisance at the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in South Kashmir, for the second consecutive year, the lingam tampering controversy has crept in once again.
“It is faith which brings us here, we are not disturbed by any such reports”, said Atul Singh, a devotee from Gujarat preparing to leave for Srinagar for his onward journey to Amarnath. He, however, stresses that a probe should be ordered to fix the responsibility of laxity as a Television Channel has claimed to have proof of tampering.
While last year, the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board was accused of tampering the lingam to enhance its longevity by avoiding melting through chemical treatment; this year the board has pointed fingers on the state government and security forces for their laxity to prevent the holy place from manual interference.
“It is unfortunate that such a holy pilgrimage where lakhs of people from across the country pay their obeisance every year, is mired in controversy”, said Shreekant Goyal of Delhi, a yatri waiting at the base camp for his turn. Though not aware of what exactly has happened, Goyal wanted a statement from the state government as well as the shrine board as went on to add, “it is a question of faith and religious sentiments of millions of people”.
A private Television Channel claiming possession of the Compact Disc says that some people including the men of security forces are clearly seen tampering with the lingam few days ahead of the formal commencement of the Yatra on June 30. According to channel the CDs were filmed by a pilgrim from Punjab. However, the Shrine Board blamed the state government and the security agencies for the lapse.
The Channel, however, pointed fingers to a network of intermediaries who take money and allow the devotees to enter the holy cave shrine and touch the Shivalingam.
“State government and the security agencies responsible for the alleged tampering of the Shivalingam”, agencies quoted the Shrine Board Chief Executive Officer Dr Arun Kumar as saying today. Dr Kumar said, 'iIf the CDs are genuine, the responsibility lies with the state government and the security agencies”.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
