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| Amarnath Niyas, VHP oppose Yatra schedule | | Accuse SASB of not taking its members into confidence, demand Yatra should commence on 'Jaishat Purnima' | |
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, May 5: Shri Baba Amarnath and Shri Baba Buda Amarnath Yatra Niyas-a conglomerate of several social and religious organisations assisting the state administration in finalizing the arrangements for upcoming annual pilgrimage of Amarnath cave-has expressed its strong disagreement with the Yatra schedule finalized by the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB). As per the SASB schedule, the annual pilgrimage to holy shrine of Lord Shiva in north Kashmir will be held from July 1 to August 24.
Taking strong cognizance of the Board's move of starting Yatra from July 1, the Nayas and the state unit of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) accused the Board of not taking its members and religious heads into confidence before finalizing the Yatra schedule.
"We cannot accept the randomly selected dates of Yatra announced by the government as it dents the sanctity of the pilgrimage that has to be performed as per the rituals and religious dates of Hindu calendar. The Yatra should be commenced on 'Jaishat Purnima' and it should continue till 'Raksha Bandhan'. No other dates would be acceptable to Niyas and pilgrims," said Surinder Mohan Aggarwal, president of SBASBBA Yatra Niyas and Dr Ramankant Dubey, president VHP in a jointly organised press conference here. They also condemned the statement of SASB to reduce the number of pilgrims to the holy cave of Lord Shiva, saying the Board has decided it on its own without taking into confidence the Niyas on this "sensitive" issue. "Despite repeated assurances and full cooperation from the Nayas for smooth and hassle free conduct of upcoming Amarnath Yatra, the Board has not taken religious heads and its members into confidence. We make a fervent appeal to the Board and state administration to reconsider the decision for holding Yatra from July 1 to August 24. Keeping in view its religious importance and sanctity, the Yatra should commence from Jaishat Purnima," Dr Dubey maintained.
Flanked by the heads of various social and religious outfits, the leaders disclosed that all the constituents of the Niyas would sit together and chalk out future course of action if the government doesn't reconsider its decision of commencement of Yatra from July 1. They regretted that the Niyas had submitted memorandums to Governor N N Vohra, who is also the chairman of the SASB on February 5 and April 28, 2010 recommending rectification of several ambiguities in preparation of Amarnath pilgrimage but the Board, instead of rectifying, is trying to create confusion.
"As per the statement of SASB authorities published in the some news papers, it is stated and the Board would register only 8000 Yatris per day, 4000 each from both Pahalgam as well as Baltal routes. Although SASB would open the registration centres like previous years all across the country to facilitate easy registration by intending pilgrims well in advance as per their convenience of track and date, but they have hurt the sentiments of pilgrims by restricting their number to only 8000 per day," they said.
Besides, they also demanded permanent separate place for Saints at base camp, separate arrangements of langers, exemption of Rs 2000 passenger tax from the vehicles carrying pilgrims and plugging of all infiltration points on border to avoid any untoward incidents during pilgrimage.
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