Author: PTI/ Jammu
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: July 2, 2004
Defying Government plans and amid
chants of "Jai bhole baba nath", the Amarnath Yatra Action Committee (AYAC)
on Thursday flagged off the first batch of yatra for Pahalgam from here.
About 85 people, including 77 sadhus left in three vehicles from Ranbishwar
Temple at Shalamar Chowk at around 9 am, on Thursday morning.
On its part, the Jammu and Kashmir
Government said in Srinagar, on Thursday that the registration of the Amarnath
pilgrims would start from July 5 and the administration has geared up its
machinery to ensure a smooth and secure 45 day-long pilgrimage to the holy
cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas.
The Government machinery has geared
up to receive the yatris from July 15 and all appropriate steps, including
adequate security, are being taken to make their yatra to the holy cave
smooth and convenient, Chief Secretary S S Bloeria said after chairing
a high-level meeting to finalise arrangements for the annual pilgrimage
at Pahalgam, the base camp for the yatra.
He said adequate security would
be ensured during the entire yatra and to overcome any unforeseen event
contingency plans framed by the Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag and Srinagar
would be brought into application. The extension of 15 days in the pre-scheduled
yatra is to streamline the facilities for yatries and avoiding overcrowding,
Bloeria said, adding that registration of yatris would start from July
5 across the country by Shri Amarnath ji shrine board (SAJSB) through various
bank branches.
He said 2,700 yatris would be allowed
daily via the traditional 45-km-long Pahalgam route, while 800 yatris would
go through Baltal route, the shortest way to the 3,800-mt-high cave, from
the date of the commencement of the yatra.
However, the Amarnath Yatra Action
Committee, in a meeting on Wednesday, had rejected the State Government's
decision to extend the yatra to 45 days, saying it would go ahead with
its schedule of yatra for Pahalgam.
The committee is determined to continue
the yatra for two months as per programme and in case the Government tries
to impose restrictions or creates hurdle in its way, "we will launch an
agitation", Dubey, who is also president of the state VHP said.
AYAC convenor I J Khajuria said
that the committee is not a party to the compromise formula reached between
the Governor, who is also the chairman of the Amarnath Shrine Board and
the Chief Minister.
"Such a move defeats the very objective
of the demand of commencement of yatra on Vyas Purnima falling tomorrow,"
Khajuria said, adding that if the yatra could be advanced from July 29
to July 12 or 15, why it could not be advanced to July 2 to fulfil the
religious aspirations of the Hindus.
