news details |
|
|
| SAYSS-BJP out to sabotage yatra? | | |
Yash Bhasin
Acting in tandem, Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti, BJP and other RSS floated Hindu organizations are unwittingly creating an atmosphere which can go to sabotage the smooth conduct of Shri Amarnath Yatra this year as well. When the people of both Jammu and Kashmir as well as the members of the two main communities of the state i.e. Hindus and Muslims have left far behind the last year’s confrontation and stand off between the two regions over some affairs connected with annual Hindu pilgrimage of Baba Amarnath in overwhelming Muslim majority Kashmir valley and the same is all set to be conducted smoothly without any hackles being raised by the secessionists and communal elements in Kashmir valley, by raising wolf cry of Muslim interference in Hindu pilgrimage, the unimaginative self styled custodians of safeguards of Hindu religious interests are trying to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere, having potential to provoke reaction from the other side, marring the peaceful and smooth conduct of yatra as was witnessed last year.
The action of the State Governor N N Vohra, in his capacity as Chairman of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, to constitute a 13 member Advisory Committee, comprising mostly representatives of business community connected with tourism and pilgrimage including four members of Muslim community from Kashmir is objected to by the BJP, SAYSS, VHP and some other Hindu organizations, floated and controlled by RSS. An imaginary fear of a move ahead to induct Muslims in Shri Amarnath Shrine Board are being raised, which are totally unfounded and far fetched.
If last year the secessionist and communal elements in Kashmir had vitiated the atmosphere by raising the bogey of move at changing the Muslim majority character of Kashmir valley by settling some Hindus from outside the state on 800 kanals of land allotted by the state government to SASB for creating infrastructural facilities for Hindu pilgrims coming from all over the country to undertake the yatra on high Himalayan mountains, leading to chain reaction both in Kashmir and Jammu region, the unimaginative and ill advised guardians of Hindu interest are only trying to stir the hornet’s nest by making issue out of a non issue.
The wolf cry of evil intention of settling Hindus from various parts of the country on a small piece of 800 kanals of land, the height of which ranges from 13,000 to 15,000 feet and which remains snow bound for 7 to 8 months in a year, with none treading the same during this period, could be attributed to the creation of perverted minds and sinister design to communize the atmosphere. Similarly the wolf cry of including some Muslim business representatives from Kashmir in the Advisory Committee constituted by the Governor, paving the way for induction of Muslims in the SASB and thus interference by non Hindus in the religious affair of Hindus is far fetched and totally uncalled far. SASB is a statutory institution created through an act of State Legislature, which clearly provides for only prominent Hindus from various walks of life to be nominated as its members by the Governor, as ex-officio Chairman of the board. It also provides that only a Hindu Governor of the state will head the board and in case the State Governor is a non Hindu, he will appoints some prominent Hindu as the Chairman of the board. Thus there is no scope for any non Muslim being inducted into the board at any time, unless Shri Amarnath Shrine Act of 2001 is amended by the state legislature. If there is any move towards this direction at any time, the objections can be raised at that time and it will be even justified to launch a country wide agitation against the same, since the same will be construed as undue interference of non Muslims in the affairs of Hindu religion. Sometime in the past, when the Congress President and Union Minister Saif-ud-Din Soz had made the suggestion for nominating a member of a scion of Bhutta Malik on the Amarnath Shrine Board, this writer in an article widely carried by the print media in J&K, had strongly criticize the same. The Advisor Committee appointed by the Governor is only a temporary body, meant to give advise to the SASB on steps to be taken to promote the pilgrimage safeguard the business interests of various sections, concerned with the pilgrimage and to preserve the environment and ecology of the area. It is the creation of the Chairman SASB and can be wound up or its composition changed at the pleasure of the Chairman. The Governor as Chairman SASB, has already appointed a committee of experts on environment to advise the board on measures to be taken to preserve the ecology and environment of the area. He may also appoint a team of health, medicare and sanitation experts. No objection can be raised to the same. Muslim officials of the state government along with Hindu officials are already deputed for undertaking various arrangements for smooth conduct of the yatra.
In fact inclusion of some Muslim business representatives in the Advisory Committee will provide bull work against any obstructionist moves from the secessionists and anti national elements from that community, raising the bogey of interests of local Muslims bring jeopardize through taking some steps by the SASB and its Chairman. The need for seeking cooperation of representatives of local Muslims hardly needs any over emphasis. Muslim pony walas, dandi walas, labourers and even dhaba owners etc enroute the cave shrine have been traditionally rendering their services to the Hindu pilgrims. While they earn some bucks, their hospitality and good will is very important for creating cordial and conducive atmosphere for the Hindu pilgrims.
The injection of the virus of Islamic fundamentalism and communal mindset in the traditionally secular minded Kashmiri Muslims cannot be met by reactionary Hindu communalism, raising doubts about the sincerity of all the Muslims of Kashmir. Trust be gets trust and suspicion gives arise to counter suspicion. Can we negate the fact that several centuries old Amarnath Shrine, which was abandoned and forgotten for quite sometime, was rediscovered, though by chance, by a Muslin shepherd Bhutta Malik.
Author is a senior journalist and political analyst. Views expressed here are purely his own.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
