HVK Archives: Amarnath Compensation - II
Amarnath Compensation - II - The Times of India
S S Joshi
()
16 September 1996
Title : Amarnath Compensation - II
Author : S S Joshi
Publication : The Times of India
Date : September 16, 1996
I fully agree with Swami Agnivesh's views. Ex-gratia
payments announced by the government to all and sundry
are nothing but a misuse of tax-payers' money. The
government is an old hand at this, of course, having for
decades wasted the common man's money on
agricultural
subsidies which never reach the poor but are swallowed by
big landlords; on tax-cuts to the mercantile sector,
which does not consequently reduce prices but only props
up the latter's profit margins,
Pilgrims who undertake the Amarnath yatra are very well
aware of its geographical position and the dangers it is
likely to submit them to. if the government decides to
pay compensation to them, it should also start laying
down strict rules - like no person above 50 years should
be allowed to undertake the difficult journey.
Swami Agnivesh, however, makes an unnecessary
reference
to the Haj pilgrimage. This will only instigate the
Muslims to start demanding similar compensation in fu-
ture. And soon the whole issue will get out of hand.
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