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| Ensure incident free pilgrimage | | |
Separatists plan to agitate against several issues in the Kashmir valley from the next month. They may start agitation against custodial killings, human rights violations and delay in the settlement of the Kashmir issue. Reports indicate that they may even include the demand for transfer of several power projects from the central sector to the state sector. Well so far agitating on these issues may not give rise to communal, sectarian and regional violence and conflicts. But if the separatists plan to agitate against extended period for the Amarnath Yatra they may be disturbing peace and simply promote regional divide of th type that was witnessed in the summer of 2008.The entire economy of the state was adversely affected because of the two-month long Bandh in Jammu region. Work in hospitals, educational institutions, banks and in the shopping sector remained paralysed. Many a lives were lost.It was the outcome of two factors. First a section of political sector opposed the two-month long annual Amarnath Yatra. In order to provoke people in Kashmir to stage mass protests these instigators accused the pilgrims of disturbing the echo and environmental balance. Others questioned the opening of Baltal-Cave route for the pilgrims. Whatever may have been the reasons for the turmoil the separatists and those agitating against two-month long yatra need to understand that prior to the rise of militancy not more 10,000 and 15,000 pilgrims would visit the holy cave. However, after 1994 bigger groups of pilgrims went to have the yatra under heavy security cover. When a large number of pilgrims were killed owing to unfair weather the experts put certain restrictions on the permission to be given to pilgrims for moving to the cave at a time. This way the Shrine Board had to extend the period of Yatra to two months when the number of pilgrims visiting the cave annually went upto three to four lakhs. Even if the pilgrim traffic is allowed for two months it helps the state's economy. It helps hoteliers, poneywallas, porters and traders and transporters. At least in the interest of communal amity and economic prosperity the duration of the annual Amarnath yatra should be left in the hands of the Government and the Shrine Board. The antisocial elements need to realize that the Shrine Board is building temporary facilities for the pilgrims and that process does not involve purchasing or acquiring land by the Board. Let people be cautious so that they do not fall prey to what may be called a conspiracy or a mischief.
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