VHP steps-in, threatens to begin annual pilgrimage from June 15 Curtailment of Amarnath Yatra

VHP steps-in, threatens to begin annual pilgrimage from June 15

Curtailment of Amarnath Yatra  

http://earlytimes.in/newsdet.aspx?q=71509

4/20/2011 12:23:08 AM

Early Times Report 

JAMMU, Apr 19: Lashing at the Jammu and Kashmir government for curtailing the Amarnath yatra period by 15 days, VHP today threatened to commence the pilgrimage from June 15 if the Governor failed to "rectify" the decision. 

"We threaten to launch the Yatra and start this year’s annual Amarnath Yatra ourselves from June 15 if the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board headed by its chairman and Governor N N Vohra did not rectify the decision at the earliest," VHP National Spokesperson, Prakash Sharma told reporters here. 

The Yatra traditionally and annually commences from June 15 and ends on August 13 - on Raksha Bandan. "But the Board decided to cut the Yatra period by 15 days and start it on June 29, hurting (the sentiments of) crores of Hindus in the country," the VHP leader said. 

The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) headed by the Governor as its Chairman had announced that the yatra will commence from June 29 instead of its commencement timing as per the religious calendar of Jaishta Purnima which falls on June 15. 

Sharma lashed at the State Government and Governor N N Vohra for triggering an agitation on the pattern of the Amarnath land row of 2008 and said "they have taken such a decision under the pressure of the separatists in Kashmir". 

"We urge the Governor to reconsider the decision immediately so that the Yatra is commenced normally. Otherwise, we also will launch an agitation across the country before starting the Yatra ourselves," he said.