Major faux pas on Shri Amarnath yatra
3 official statements within minutes
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 22: In a major faux pas, Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) today first announced cancellation of annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji in South Kashmir Himalayas beginning June 23 in view of Coronavirus pandemic but withdrew the order within minutes saying appropriate decision can be taken on organizing the yatra after review of the situation in coming future.
In the gap of just two hours, the SASB came out with three separate statements issued by the UT’s Information Department —–first announcing cancellation of yatra for this year, second cancellation and withdrawal of the first statement and third saying it may not be possible to organize the Yatra 2020 but appropriate decision will be taken in coming future.
Annual pilgrimage to Shri Amarnath Ji shrine falling in Anantnag district of South Kashmir was scheduled to last 42 days beginning June 23 this year and culminate on August 3 on the occasion of Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.
Sources told the Excelsior that the SASB decision which was taken at its Board of Directors meeting chaired by Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu, who happens to be the Chairman of Board, caused unrest among the aspiring pilgrims countrywide as yatra was still two months away.
The Government of India, according to sources, was also of the view that final decision on the yatra should be taken after waiting for some more time as it was too early to take call on such a significant decision as religious sentiments of large numbers of people across the country were attached with the yatra.
Number of yatra aspirants also rang up the Excelsior and said the Government should wait at least for a month to take call on the yatra. If the Coronavirus situation settles down by then, the yatra can be organized or reduced from 42 days to 20 or 25 days instead of being cancelled straightway, they added.
They pointed out that Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrimage which has been going on for centuries together hasn’t been cancelled even when the militancy was at its peak in early nineties. However, they said, the SASB should take a decision after waiting for a month and observing COVID-19 pandemic situation then.
In the first press statement titled “Shri Amarnath ji Yatra 2020 cancelled due to outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic” issued by Information Department vide No. PR/D1/19/7062, a spokesman said that the decision was taken at the 38th Board meeting of the SASB which met under the chairmanship of Lt Governor G C Murmu at Raj Bhavan here.
However, he said the board decided that the Pratham Pooja’ and ‘Sampann Pooja’ would be done with traditional fervor.
Later, within half an hour, another official statement was issued by the Information Department Vide No. PR/D1/19/7065 which read, “The Press Note titled Shri Amarnath ji Yatra 2020 cancelled due to outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic released vide No: PR/D1/19/7062/ may kindly be treated cancelled and withdrawn.”
In the first press release, Murmu was quoted as saying that there were 77 Red Zones identified in the Kashmir valley from where the pilgrimage passed.
“Due to this pandemic, the establishment of langars, medical facility, camp establishment, material mobilization and snow clearance are not possible,” he said.
“Though Government of India extended the nationwide lockdown till May 3, it is highly unpredictable to know which direction it will take later. The safety of the pilgrims is of prime importance,” he said.
The spokesman said the Board decided unanimously that in view of the pandemic, it wouldn’t be prudent to organize the yatra.
“It was also decided that the board would explore the possibility of telecasting the pooja and darshan of Shivlinga online and through other media for millions of devotees worldwide,” the spokesman said, adding the Board members noted that this should also set an example for all to avoid such congregations.
Minutes later, the Government issued third press statement through Information Department vide Order No. PR/D1/19/7070 regarding the SASB’s 38th Board meeting presided over by Murmu at Raj Bhawan.
It said the Board expressed its apprehension and held that as on date, it may not be possible to organize the Yatra 2020.
“Due to the current COVID-2019 pandemic situation being dynamic, appropriate decision can be taken on organizing the yatra on reviewing of the situation in coming future,” it added.
The Board meeting was attended by DC Raina, Prof Anita Billawaria, Dr Sudershan Kumar, Dr CM Seth and Prof Vishwamurti Shastri. Bipul Pathak, Chief Executive Officer, Anup Kumar Soni, Additional Chief Executive Officer and other senior officers of the Shrine Board also attended the meeting while Swami Avdeshanand Giri Ji Maharaj and Devi Prasad Shetty attended the meeting through video conferencing.
It may be mentioned here that pilgrimage to holy cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji has also been suspended for past more than a month in view of Coronavirus pandemic.
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