Excelsior Correspondent
NAGROTA, Dec 16: National Conference Provincial President Devender Singh Rana today questioned the rationale behind unwarranted intrusion into spiritual and most popular pilgrimages of Shri Amarnathji in Kashmir and Shri Mata Vaishno Deviji in Jammu, saying its ramifications on religious sentiments of a particular section of society besides State economy could be irreparable
“The one after another directive from the National Green Tribunal to single out these two pilgrimages is intriguing, more so the silence of Jammu and Kashmir Government that is showing surprising indifference”, Rana said while interacting with a strong contingent of yatris after flagging them off from Kandoli Temple for Haridwar here this morning. The yatra is an annual feature connected with holy dip in Haridwar on Amawasya.
Hoping that the devout will go as ambassadors of peace from the State, known for its time- tested pluralistic ethos, Rana made a passionate appeal for spreading the message of tranquility and harmony, which is under severe threat from the divisive forces.
He said the flip-flop and clarifications offered by the NGT make the developments mysterious and it is time the respective Shrine Boards take cognizance and come out with roadmap to counter the ill-effects of illogical directives. He said the role of these boards is not only to manage the pilgrimages but also to take due care of religious concerns attached to these shrines.
In this backdrop, he said all eyes are on Governor N N Vohra, the Chairperson of the SASB and SMVDSB, to intervene and get the wrongs undone. He also wondered over the State Government’s failure in taking note of the attempts of sabotaging the pilgrim tourism, source of sustenance to thousands of families across the state, directly and indirectly.
“At a time the State Government is showcasing tourism across the country by organizing road-shows in various metropolises to woo tourists, the most viable segment of pilgrim tourism is allowed to fall prey to green activism”, he said, adding that reduction in numbers to Vaishno Devi Shrine will cast shadow on the already precarious State economy. Coming as it is in the wake of railway extension to Katra, the pilgrim reduction will be yet another blow to all those thriving on religious tourism, he lamented.
Reiterating his appeal to the Governor, the Provincial President hoped a holistic view of the obtaining and enveloping situation will be taken and response framed up, keeping in view the religious aspirations of the people.
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