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| NC exposes its 'real face' on Amarnath Yatra once again | | Extension to affect 'fragile ecology', says MP in RS vHits out at BJP for 'double standards' | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 16: The ruling National Conference has done it again. The party which has a wide base in Kashmir has not stopped stirring the political waters with its ever controversial remarks and comments on holy Amarnath pilgrimage, no matter it amounts to exposing its 'real face' only on the sensitive issue which concerns faith of one entire community of the country. And this time it was once again no less prestigious forum than the Parliament where it opposed tooth and nail of any move to grant extension to the pilgrimage. Party's MP Ghulam Nabi Rattanpuri echoed concern in the Rajya Sabha two days back over what he brazenly said the annual Yatra was responsible for increasing pollution in the area and adjacent localities. On political note the NC MP lashed out at BJP with many accusations. The latter has, however, yet to react to what he stated in the House.
If Omar Abdullah raked up the issue to hilt , albeit on a different contour in 2008 over land transfer issue, something which fetched heavy political gains to party in the following polls, the party MP in Rajya Sabha continued with similar tone, reflecting NC's stiff opposition to the pilgrimage, no matter the leaders are now saying on one or the other pretext. There is nothing new in the stance nor has NC changed its mind towards the holy pilgrimage ,nevertheless the leadership back home in J&K talks in guarded tenor ,simply because it happens to be ruling party at present. One only wonders that opposition and somewhat 'contemptuous' observations have come from a leader who otherwise has been seen in deep hibernation ever since he became the MP. That has, however, a different story of bickering and leg pulling within the organization (NC), and the distance high command has maintained with Rattanpuri on a host of reasons.
While stating anything against Amarnath Yatra is gimmick that is actually playing to gallery and aimed to address its political constituency, on the party lines it hit out at BJP on a different note. The NC MP accused BJP of adopting double standards over Amarnath Yatra in Kashmir and Gomukh Yatra in Uttarakhand, and said that any move to extend the duration of Amarnath Yatra shall have highly adverse affect on the fragile ecology and environment of the area.
He stated this while he was participating in the discussion on a Calling Attention Motion on Amarnath Yatra issue in the Rajya Sabha on August 14. Giving 'explanations' , Ratanpuri said the pollution caused in the glaciers by the waste left behind by Yatris is making the rivers and water bodies flowing in the area highly toxic taking a heavy toll on the health of local population. "Even today hundreds of the residents in the catchment areas of the Yatra are suffering from serious water borne diseases," he said.
What deserves a serious and timely reaction from BJP is the statement in which MP accused BJP members of turning a matter of faith into religious frenzy and having scant regard for the fragile ecology of Amarnath Yatra route. Rattanpuri said those accusing paucity of facilities for the Yatra are ignorant of the ground realities.
Rattanpuri rejected the criticism of J&K Government and informed the House that the State Government was taking every possible step to make Yatra safe and as comfortable as it could be in the rough terrain.
He said Yatra in such a rough terrain and ecologically fragile area has to be regulated, otherwise tragedies and disasters can not be averted. He asked BJP why they are applying double-standards. "If their Government could restrict the number of Yatris including tourists to only 150 daily to Gomukh Temple in Gangotri area of Uttarakhand, why should they insist on unrestricted and unregulated Yatra to Amarnath. |
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