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| Samiti tough on stand, Jammu reopens on I-day | | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Aug 8
* SAYSS refused to talk to Governor’s 4–member panel
* No talks with PM’s team if Abdullah, Mufti are members
* Shut down extended for 6-days, next decision on Aug 15
Despite all diplomatic overtures and strategic engagements run from all channels ranging from the Jammu and Kashmir’s Raj Bhawan to New Delhi’s North Block and 7 Race Course, the Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti does not appear in a mood to settle down for anything less than restoration of the tract of 800 kanals of land to the Amarnath Shrine Board.
In its apparent stretching and tiring policy, the Governor NN Vohra and the Government of India want the agitation to be put on hold for resumption of dialogue. On the contrary, the Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti (SAYSS) wants the land to be restored at first instance to make ground for initiating dialogue.
What makes the issue vexed and protracted is the visible inability of the Government to outrightly agree for revocation of the Cabinet order which cancelled allotment order and an impossible scenario for the SAYSS to settle down for anything but land. A look at the official handling of the issues since June 30 reveals that the government wants the passion to subside at their own and then find a middle path. In such an endless wait what is being overlooked is the fact that from an influential political or business leader to an average Jammuite, a visible majority does not want the agitation to end without reaching at a logical conclusion.
Piloted by an overwhelming across the board support SAYSS mood can easily be gauged from the fact that a day ahead of arrival of a high powered central team, the shut down call has been extended by another six days. This clearly reflects that they are not averse to any course of dialogue but at the same time will not get engaged any such consultative process which leads to nowhere.
Therefore, the Samiti today decided to extend its agitation till August 14, a day before an all-party delegation from New Delhi is to arrive in an effort to resolve the dispute over transfer of forest land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB). The decision was taken at the SAYSS meeting in which 250 members were present.
Some members said in the meeting that the bandh in Jammu should be extended by three days. But most said it should be extended for a longer period to send a strong signal to the Centre that the SAYSS remains firm on its stand. The meeting presided over by Samiti member Brig (retd) Suchet Singh ultimately decided to extend the agitation till August 14.
It is also pertinent to mention here that the SAYSS today refused to talk to the ambitious four-member panel appointed by the Governor to initiate process of consultation. The SAYSS was particularly irked by the official statement that the panel was constituted on being demanded by it. “We never asked for constitution of any panel”, says Brig Singh. He also made it clear that if ever the talks were held with the panel there should be a clear agenda served first.
He, however, confirmed that the Samiti has received a letter from the four- member committee. "The letter sent yesterday by B B Vyas, Principal Secretary to the Governor, who is also member of the committee, has said that the government appreciates SASS's stand that it was prepared for a dialogue," Singh said,
The letter had sought time, date and place from the Samiti to hold the talks, which was however later refused.
Later in the evening a Raj Bhawan spokesman sought to clarify that the four-member committee was constituted by the Governor, Mr. N..N. Vohra with a view to carrying forward the process of dialogue with the Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti. The Governor established the committee with the specific objective of achieving a breakthrough in establishing contact with Sangharsh Samiti in recommencing the dialogue, he said. |
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