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| ‘Call Upon Your Followers To Halt Protests’ | | Text of Governor's statement | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | June 29
At the request of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), the State Government had issued an Order to sanction the diversion of 39.88 h.a. of forest land for enabling the SASB to raise pre-fabricated structures only for providing camping facilities to pilgrims at Baltal and Domail. The misrepresentation of the facts, background and actual significance of the aforesaid Order has contributed to a grave misperception, bordering on conviction, that SASB had acquired permanent ownership of forest land to erect permanent structures. In fact, the demarcation of the land and its possession has not so far been delivered to the SASB which has also not paid the assessed compensation for use of the land.
The doubts and suspicions spread by certain elements have led to a wave of protests and loss of precious lives. The emerging insecure environment has also resulted in reducing the earlier inflow of over 10,000 yatris and tourists every day to a mere trickle. In fact, even those who had arrived for yatra or for a holiday in Kashmir have been rushing to get out. Thus, besides the serious impediments caused by the disturbance of peace and harmony, the ongoing agitation has also caused serious economic loss to the thousands of families who benefit from the lakhs who visit Kashmir to perform Yatra or for tourism.
As the entire controversy relates to State Government's Order to divert a pocket of forest land for use by the SASB to raise temporary facilities for the pilgrims at Baltal and Domail base camps, I have had a series of discussions with the Chief Minister since I took over on 25 June evening, both in my capacity as Governor and as Chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board. From the perspective of the SASB the essential issue is its responsibility to provide the requisite facilities for the Yatris. As such, the transfer of land, per se, is not the issue. At my suggestion, the State Government has agreed to discharge full responsibility for undertaking the required infrastructural development on the approach routes to the Holy Cave to provide all required support and facilities to ensure the welfare, safety and security of all those who visit the Shrine during the entire period of the Amarnathji Yatra, every year.
In view of the State Government's firm commitment that the requirements and interests of the Yatris will be fully ensured and protected, the SASB does not need to pursue its earlier request for forest land being diverted for creating the required temporary facilities for the Yatris by the Board and I have addressed the Chief Minister accordingly in this regard.
I appeal to the leaders of all sections of the society to urgently call upon their followers to halt the on-going protestations with immediate effect so that peace and normalcy is restored and the Amarnathji Yatra, which is a shining symbol of the deeply secular traditions of the Kashmiri people, is conducted in a manner which recalls its 160 years old glorious history.
In so far as the long term issues relating to the Amarnathji Yatra are concerned, I propose to hold consultations with eminent social and religious personalities, of all faiths, in the coming weeks. |
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