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| Yatra heading for another controversy | | | ARTI BHAT
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, June 5: With State Government's decision to impose Rs 25,000 as a tax on social as well as the philanthropist organizations establishing the langers for Swami Amarnath pilgrims, the annual Swami Amarnath Ji Yatra will be marred by a another controversy this year.
The Government decision has drawn a flak with various political and non political organizations in Jammu openly opposing it. These organizations have warned to come to streets and not hesitate in launching 2008 Amaranth land row type agitation this time again incase the decision was not revoked immediately.
The Hindu organisations including Vishaw Hindu Parishad, Baba Amarnath and Baba Buda Amarnath Yatri Niyas, BJP, Shiv Sena Hindustan, Sanatan Dharmik Mandli, Bajrang Dal and Jammu KashmirVichar Manch have openly joined the issue with the Government and termed it an anti people decision which ahs hurt the sentiments of people throughout the country.
These organizations are up in arms against the decision to launch an agitation and come to streets if the decision was not revoked immediately. Terming the decision of imposing Rs 25,000 as tax on social organizations interested to set up langers during the annual yatra a kind of Jazia, the leaders of these organizations blame the Government of deliberately creating a controversy during the yatra period to sabotage it. ``It was theGovernemnt whichcreated a controversy on allotment of Amarnath land during2008 and it is again the Government which is given rise to another controversy this time'', said Dr Rama Kant Dubey, VHP state chief and senior member of the BABAYN.
He warned that such a kind of attitude will not be tolerated at any cost and it is unfortunate that the Government has not learnt any lesson from its past mistake as it has given a rise to fresh controversy again.
Dr Dubey however expressed the hope that a good sense will prevail among the Government and it will not allow the issue to snowball into 2008 type controversy.
The decision ahs been also out rightly rejected by Shri Amarnath Baltal Langer Organisation, Ludhiana. The president of the organisation VijayKuamr Thakur ahstaken up the issue with the State Government and he has also submitted ameorandum to President of India as well as Prime Minister seeking their immediate intervention in the matter to settle the issue.
The organization has even blamed the Government and Shri Amarnath Shrine Board of unnecessarily interfering in the religious matters of Hindus and asked them to keep their hands off..
The SABLO, while taking serious exception to charge Rs25,000 as a tax on establishment of langers said the langers are established to provide free services to the yatris enroute and they are run on the donations of the people
SABLO has also accused the government of copmmercialising yatra aqnd creating
Unnecessary controversy to sabotage it.they demanded that the decision be immediately revoked for the smooth running of yatra this year . SABLO is also in touch with other organizations to chalk out the future course of action in case the government fails to revoke the decision.
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