JAMMU, Jan 17: Shri Amarnath Yatra has been a universal yatra sthal in Jammu and Kashmir for centuries. It is one of the Hindu pilgrims destination which is manned, organized and assisted by the Muslim fraternity of Kashmir Valley since the Mughal period whole-heartedly. This yatra is drawn from all nook and corners of India and fully assisted and cooperated by the Kashmiri Muslim fraternity who have been acting as perfect hosts since centuries.” This was the observation made by the Women Wing of J&K National Panthers Party which held a meeting at Jammu this afternoon to discuss the reduction in time for the Shri Amarnath Yatra this year.
The Panthers Party General Secretary, Ms.Anita Thakur while addressing the women activists of the party expressed shock on the unmindful decision of the Govt. of J&K to reduce the yatra period to just 40 days. In a resolution passed by the Panthers Party committee it expressed surprise how the yatra period was reduced from 90 days to 60 days. Later it was reduced from 60 days to 48 days. It said that the latest gift awarded by the coalition Govt. of J&K comprising BJP and PDP is very unfortunate and unacceptable that the yatra period now has been reduced to just 40 days.
The Panthers Party women activists expressed surprise that the Govt. has not cared about the pilgrims as well as about the people of Kashmir Valley who remain engaged for three months whole-heartedly and contribute a lot for the success of the Amarnath Yatra. It said that besides, this contribution, the unemployed youth also used to earn their wages during the 90 days yatra. It worked as a social security to the working class in Kashmir Valley as well as this yatra has been generating the spirit of goodwill and brotherhood for centuries.
The Panthers Party General Secretary has demanded that yatra period should be extended to 90 days so that the unemployed youth and the workers may also get an opportunity to earn and learn from their brethren who visit Kashmir during this session hailing from different parts of the country.
In the meantime, Prof.Bhim Singh has urged Hon'ble Governor Shri N.N. Vohra to reconsider the decision taken by the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board in the interest of generating goodwill of the youth of Kashmir through this process to develop human communication and promoting the spirit of National Integration, which has always been promoted by the people of J&K.
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