Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 3: While strongly condemning the role of Government on historical Kounsarnag yatra in Kulgam district of South Kashmir Vishav Hindu Parishad (VHP) today said the Kounsarnag yatra dates back with Kashap Rishi the originator of Kashmir valley.
Making a dig at State Government and separatists, the VHP State patron, Dr Rama Kant Dubey said that Hindus don’t need any permission from any body to visit their religious places. He declared that from next year the VHP and Bajrang Dal will launch the Kounsarnag yatra like the Swami Amarnath yatra and Buda Amarnath yatra started by it earlier.
He said the Kounsarnag lake is as old as Kashmir dating back to Puranic period and no body will be allowed to create hurdles in running this historic and age old yatra. He said Neelmat Puran an ancient religious scripture on Kashmir has a full reference to this lake which is linked to God Vaishno while the historian like Kalhan Pandit who has written 5000 year old history of Kashmir has also made a mention to this lake in Rajtarangni an ancient book available on Kashmir history.
He said Hindus don’t need to give any proof regarding this yatra to State Government or separatists and no body will be allowed to interfere with the religious affairs of the community.
He said Islam has come to Kashmir in seventh century while these religious places were existing from thousands of years before that. He said after the advent of Islam in Kashmir Hindu religious places were subjected to attack and now the same mindset is again working in Valley.
Dr Dubey said disallowing the yatris to have pilgrimage at holy shrine of Kounsarnag by the administration was just to please the separatists and terrorists who are ruling the roost in Valley. The VHP leader said that this should not be allowed to happen at any cost.
The VHP has also asked the Government not to disturb any yatra of Hindus in future and ensure that Hindu yatras in Valley are conducted smoothly and peacefully. He said in case any untoward happens with any yatra in future that will not be tolerated at any cost and VHP will be forced to launch a nationwide movement.
VHP leaders including its working president Hem Raj Khajuria and general secretary Dr Sham Lal Gupta were present in the press conference.
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