Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 1: VHP has strongly condemned the State administration for withdrawing permission to ancient Kounsarnag shrine pilgrimage in South Kashmir district of Anantnag and alleged that this was done by the Government on the behest of separatists.
Talking to reporters here, today, VHP State general secretary, Dr Sham Lal Gupta and its working president, Hem Raj Khajuria said that instead of encouraging tourists and yatris the administration in Kashmir was hell bent to discourage them to please the separatists and anti national elements active in Valley.
They said by withdrawing permission to the Kounsarnag yatra from Kulgam, it has become crystal clear that the authorities are playing in the hands of separatists and anti national elements.
They said that J&K has been abode of gods and goddesses and ancient Hindu shrines right from Sharda Mata presently in PoK to Swami Amarnath, Prachin, Amarnath, Danishwar to Kounsar Nag and many more shrines in Kashmir Valley to Mata Vaishno Devi, Sukhrala Mata, Bala Sundri, Buda Amarnath, Shiv Kohri, Purmandal, Machail Mata, Sarthal Mata and many more shrines in Jammu region are being visited lakhs of devotees every year.
They said denial of permission to visit religious place is negation of right to religion and NC led Government was responsible for the same.
The VHP leaders also took strong exception to denial of permission to Buda Amarnath pilgrims to visit Pingala Mata temple enroute to holy shrine of Buda Amarnath today.
They said despite the same was approved in the meeting held by VHP and Baba Amarnath and Buda Amarnath Yatri Niyas with Divisional Commissioner Jammu and IGP Jammu on July 17, the Rajouri administration has not allowed the first batch of Buda Amarnath pilgrims to visit Pingla Mata Temple in Nowshera.
Taking a serious note of it they said the yatra was started on the persistent demand of the people of the area and by denying permission to pilgrims Government was forcing the yatris to come to streets.
They warned that in case Government creates hurdles VHP will on its own conduct the yatra to these shrines.
Meanwhile, Kashmiri Pandit Sabha (KPS) has also strongly condemned the withdrawal of permission to Kounsarnag Yatra by the Government and said that it shows that the Government has succumbed to pressure of separatists.
KPS president, K K Khosa, while expressing his dismay over the struggle of functioning of the State Government said that Omar Abdullah Government has taken the decision in total desperation. The denial of permission tantamount to negation of right to religion and it also shows that the separatists rule roost in Valley.
All State Kashmiri Pandit Conference (ASKPC) president, R K Raina while expressing his dismay over the Government decision to withdraw permission to Kounsarnag Yatra said that it has hurt the sentiments of Hindus all over the globe. He said denying permission to yatra has indicated that Government has no secular credentials.
Kashmiri Pandit Conference (KPC) president, Kundan Kashmiri has also strongly condemned the discriminatory attitude of the NC led Government towards the Hindus and accused it of succumbing to the pressure of Pro Pak elements and separatists on whose behest the permission to Kounsarnag yatra was denied by it.
He said that Kounsarnag being an ancient shrine of Kashmir dating back to Kashyap Rishi’s era, it is mentioned as Vaishnu-Pad in Neelmat Puran the ancient religious scripture on Kashmir.
Mr Kashmiri also criticized the Hurriyat hardliner Syed Ali Shah Geelani of misleading Kashmiris by spelling venom and creating a communal hatred. KPC leader, while addressing the meeting of his organization at New Delhi sought immediate intervention of Union Government urging it to ensure the pilgrimage to holy shrine and other Hindu shrines in Valley.
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