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| Pahalgam tent operators stage protest against admin, allege discrimination | | | Saahil Suhail | 5/30/2018 10:44:19 AM |
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Early Times Report
Anantnag, May 29, 2018: The decision of the authorities to hold draw of lots for allotment of tents for annual Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage without giving any preference to locals have agitated hundreds of tent operators.
A group of tent operators on Tuesday held protests against the district administration and alleged discrimination. The tent operators met MLA Pahalgam Altaf Ahmad Kaloo and registered their protest, who later asked Deputy Commissioner Anantnag and Chief Executive Officer of Pahalgam Development Authority to sort out the issue within a week’s time and give priority to locals in the allotment of tents for Amarnath Yatra.
Tent operators alleged that administration was deliberately and systematically shutting them out of the annual pilgrimage and thus depriving them from earning their livelihood.
“Few years ago Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board started holding draw of lots for the allotments of tents at that time we resisted it and later Government issued an order according to which the Yatra Officer has to give priority to locals but it didn’t happen this year as we are being told that the authorities have already exhausted 90% quota,” tent operators said.
Mushtaq Pahalgami, who heads the local tent operators union, alleged that the Shrine Board with the help of local administration was trying to deprive the local populace from earring their livelihood.
MLA Pahalgam Altaf Ahmad Kaloo, who met the protesters, threatened to launch agitation if the authorities failed to sort out the issue.
“I will not remain silent over this issue. I have told the authorities to sort the issue within a week and issue permissions in favor of all those tent operators whose livelihood depends upon the annual pilgrimage.
He said that the Pahalgam residents in toughest times have ensured that pilgrims don’t face any difficulty.
“Residents of Pahalgam are associated with Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra from centuries. Most of the people are landless here. Their livelihood is mainly dependent of this pilgrimage so who can this government which claims was creating employment avenues deprive my people from earning their livelihood out of this Yatra,” Kaloo said.
He claimed that authorities have issued permissions in favor of government employees and females in violation of norms.
“There is a clear cut direction from the officer of Governor as well from the government that locals should be given priority so I fail to understand why this locals were ignored,” he added.
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