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| Amarnath Yatra death toll ; BJP slams Centre, J&K Govt | | | agencies
New Delhi, July 12 : The BJP today slammed the Central and Jammu and Kashmir governments and Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) for 'unprecedented' increase in the deaths of pilgrims, mostly due to cardiac arrest. "Amarnath Yatra has become a target of J&K government's lethargic approach. More than 60 pilgrims have died due to lack of health and other facilities in just 17 days of yatra," BJP spokesperson Tarun Vijay told reporters at party's media briefing. He alleged that the separatists in the state have been trying to stop the holy yatra and the state government has become a party to it. Mr Vijay said from four months in the 1950s, the yatra's duration was reduced to 60 days in 2009. Then, it came down to 55 days in 2010, and 45 days in 2011. This year the yatra was reduced to 39 days. He accused the state government of not taking any step to improve infrastructure for the yatra. "Shockingly we have not heard a single word of condolence from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on these deaths," Mr Vijay said. He said the yatra has benefitted local economy enormously but there was no facility even as the number of pilgrims has been increasing every year. "There is a lack of facility for the pilgrims. Health centres have been established at a distance of 6 to 10 km," he claimed. Mr Vijay also demanded the state government and SASB, which is headed by J&K Governor N N Vohra, probe into the death of the devotees en route the 3,888-feet-high holy cave in south Kashmir Himalayas. The BJP spokesperson said a high-level delegation of party MPs will meet Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and Mr Vohra regarding the high number of deaths occuring this year. "Why the Home Minister has chosen silence on these deaths and not sought report on the matter," Mr Vijay asked. Two more Amarnath yatris died due to cardiac arrest today, taking the death toll to 69 since the annual pilgrimage commenced on June 25.
Lakhs of pilgrims have paid obeisance since the pilgrimage to the 3,880-mt high holy cave shrine began from the twin tracks of Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district. The yatra will end on August 2, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan. |
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