Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 22: Shri Amarnath Barfani Langars Organisation (SABLO) has appealed the Lt Governor of J&K, G C Murmu, who is also Chairman of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, to cancel the annual Amarnath Yatra this year because of COVID-19 threat.
Rajan Gupta, General Secretary & Vijay Kumar Thakur, President, informed that SABLO has forwarded a number of suggestions to Lieutenant Governor of J&K , Prime Minister of India and Union Home Minister requesting that the Yatra should not be conducted in view of the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the best interest of yatris, other stake holders and above all nation.
In the letter, the SABLO suggested the SASB to call an emergency meeting of board members and urgently take decision in this regard. “Since the entire Doctors, Para Medical Staff and administration is busy fighting and containing Corona, it will also be highly risky for intending yatris to go for CHC as there are chances of getting infected with Corona virus. Moreover, maintaining social distancing during medical check up, registration as pilgrims in banks, during travel and above all at the Base Camps, Access Control Gates (ACG’s) upper camps on twin tracks and above all at holy cave and of course in Bhandaras and Tents. The Yatris will face great difficulties in getting booking of Railways and Air Travels,” SABLO explained.
Vijay Mehra, Joint Finance Secretary SABLO suggested that all the rituals at the Holy Cave and related to Yatra be performed and completed by taking some representatives from Shrine Board, Pujarais, Mahants, Sadhus, who already perform such duties every year prior to/at the time of commencement and culmination of the Yatra every year.
Pankaj Soni, Secretary made it very clear that if the Shrine Board still decides to go ahead with the conduct of Shri Amarnathji Yatra this year, the Bhandara Organisations are ready to render Langar services during the Yatra period as usual for the convenience of pilgrims.
Harsh Rishi, Coordinator, Baltal-Holy Cave route, SABLO, suggested that if possible, arrangements should be made for providing the facility of live darshan of Holy Shiv/Ice lingam at Holy Cave to the Shiv Bhagats by making arrangements with some channels of electronic media as is being done at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine.
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