Home Secy, Director IB to review yatra arrangements today
Govt to give fresh call for liberation of PoJK
Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 13: Union Home Minister Amit Shah is likely to attend ‘PoJK Sankalp Rally’ in Jammu on May 8 being organized by Jammu and Kashmir People’s Forum (JKPF) to reiterate the claim over PoJK occupied illegally by Pakistan.
This will be Shah’s second visit to Jammu in less than two months and third in seven months and comes amidst reports that the Central Government proposed to hold Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir after completion of delimitation exercise for Assembly constituencies followed by summary revision of electoral rolls.
Union Home Secretary AK Bhalla and Director Intelligence Bureau (IB) Arvind Kumar are also visiting Srinagar tomorrow on a two-day visit to review arrangements for Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrimage and situation on militancy front.
Reliable sources told the Excelsior that Jammu and Kashmir People’s Forum is holding a function to recall sacrifices of PoJK refugees since independence and the rights and compensation given to them by Narendra Modi-led BJP Government which were denied by successive previous Governments.
While the Government officials were yet to confirm visit of Amit Shah at the JKPF function named ‘PoJK Sankalp Rally’, reliable sources confirmed that Shah will visit Jammu on May 8 to attend the rally from where a fresh call will be given for liberation of PoJK.
A grand rally has been proposed by Jammu and Kashmir People’s Forum which will be addressed by Shah in which PoJK refugees not only from J&K but those who have settled in other States will also be invited besides other people.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rally at Palli Panchayat in Samba district on April 24 on the occasion of National Panchayats Day followed by Shah’s rally on May 8 are being seen as launch of campaign by the BJP for upcoming Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
There have been reports that Delimitation Commission is likely to submit its report to the Union Law Ministry well before May 6 deadline after settling claims and objections received by it from political parties, organizations and individuals.
The delimitation exercise has to be followed by mandatory summary revision of electoral rolls which can take about four months. The summary revision is essential before conduct of Assembly elections as it has not been held in Jammu and Kashmir for the last three years.
Amit Shah had visited Jammu on March 18 and 19 to join CRPF’s Raising Day Parade. He also reviewed security arrangements in the Union Territory during his visit.
Shah had also undertaken four-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir from October 23 to 26 last year.
Meanwhile, Union Home Secretary AK Bhalla and Director Intelligence Bureau Arvind Kumar are visiting Srinagar tomorrow on a two-day visit to review security arrangements for annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji cave shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas and militancy related incidents.
The 43-day pilgrimage will start on June 30 and conclude on August 11 coinciding with Raksha Bandhan and Shravan Purnima.
This will be first high level review of security and other arrangements for annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji shrine for current year.
Administration is expecting that nearly eight lakh pilgrims could come for darshan of holy Ice Lingam of Lord Shiva in South Kashmir Himalayas during 43 days long yatra.
It may be mentioned here that Shri Amarnath Ji yatra was cut short by at least a fortnight in 2019 ahead of Central Government’s August 5 decisions to abrogate special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcate erstwhile State into two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.
In 2020 and 2021, Shri Amarnath yatra was cancelled due to COVID pandemic and only symbolic yatra was held for Chhari Pujan and conducting other rituals.
Top officers of civil and police administration will give detailed briefing to the visiting Union Home Secretary and the Intelligence Bureau chief about security and other arrangements being made for Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrimage.
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