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| Geelani's statement receives backlash from Jammu outfits | | Stop campaigning against Yatra period: KP leaders | |
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, June 19: The recent statement of Hurriyat Conference Chairman, Syed Ali Shah Geelani to curtail ensuing Amarnath Yatra for 15 days today received backlash from Hindu and social organisations as they warned the separatist leader to keep off from the religious activities of the Hindus.
Former convenor of Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti, Leela Karan Sharma, who headed two-month-long agitation on Amarnath land row, questioned the locus standi of Hurriyat leader to interfere in the religious affairs of Hindus while Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), state chief, Ramakant Dubey dismissed the statement as a reaction of an aging separatist leader coming out of frustration only. Besides, several Kashmiri Pandits (KPs) organisations have also criticised the Geelani's remarks.
Syed Ali Shah Geelani during the Friday gathering at Magarmal Bagh mosque had warned to launch agitation if the Amarnath yatra was not limited to 15 days.
Leela Karan, who thought it as his "moral responsibility" to condemn the statement in strong words, said that the separatist leader is trying to create situation similar to 2008.
"Geelani is no authority to speak on this issue as the decision on duration of pilgrimage of all Hindu shrines are the prerogative of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board and the representatives of Hindu religious organizations only can take decision in such a matter", cautioned Sharma.
"In order to remain in limelight, the Hurriyat leader has tried to hurt the sentiments of 90 crore Hindus across the country. Kashmir is not the personal property of the Geelani," he remarked and asked him, "Who are you to decide on the yatra period?"
The SAYSS leader said that nearly two lakh tourists still are in Kashmir Valley and such statement would add fuel in the fire.
He also accused the coalition government of encouraging the separatists' activities in Valley. "The government does not want to control the activities of separatists' leaders as it fulfills its own interests," he said and served a warning on the separatist leader to rein in his rhetoric on Hindu religion or be prepared to face the wrath.
Meanwhile, Kashmiri Pandits organisations have also criticized Geelani for raking up the issue of curtailing the annual Amarnath yatra period from two months to 15 days. The chief of All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference, A N Vaishnavi said that it was unfortunate that the controversy over curtailing the yatra period had been vitiating the atmosphere in the state during the last 10 years.
"Geelani and others should realise that it would not be possible for over three lakh pilgrims to make it to the holy cave within 15 days," he said.
Panun Kashmir Chairman, Ajay Chrungoo said that a vicious campaign has been launched during the last over seven years in which the pilgrims were being blamed for polluting the eco system and environment as a large number of tents come up during the yatra. The activists of Shri Ram Sena (SRS) staged a protest against the Geelani's statement and warned that any such move would flare religious sentiments in the region. The state president SRS Rajiv Mahajan led the protestors. Reacting to the statement, the VHP president Ramakant Dubey said, "I find nothing substance into it" while the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh president Brigadier Suchet Singh too seconded adding, "Geelani has no business in Hindu's affairs".
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