LG meets Home Secy, discusses options on Shri Amarnath yatra;COVID management in J&K reviewed
JAMMU, June 6: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today met Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla in the Union capital and discussed with him a series of issues including upcoming Shri Amarnath Ji yatra in South Kashmir Himalayas which was scheduled to begin on June 28 and last till August 22 but in view of second wave of COVID uncertainty prevailed over the pilgrimage.
This was first meeting of Sinha with Bhalla during past about couple of months as second wave of COVID saw the Lieutenant Governor busy in Jammu and Kashmir managing the pandemic.
Before second wave set-in, Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB) headed by the Lieutenant Governor had announced that annual pilgrimage to Shri Amarnath Ji shrine will be held for 56 days this year starting June 28 and concluding on August 22 coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.
However, on April 22, the SASB had ordered suspension of registration for Shri Amarnath Ji pilgrimage which had started on April 1, in view of fresh wave of pandemic.
The Lieutenant Governor and the Union Home Secretary were understood to have held detailed discussions on how to go ahead with Shri Amarnath Ji yatra as although pandemic situation has eased a bit, Jammu and Kashmir was still witnessing around 25 casualties and nearly 1500-2000 cases daily.
“Different scenarios are under consideration of the Centre and Union Territory Governments for Shri Amarnath Ji yatra including limited duration with very less number of pilgrims in a day as it won’t be possible to conduct the pilgrimage for scheduled 56 days due to COVID scenario. However, a final decision will be taken by the SASB in consultations with the Central Government,” sources said.
One or two more meetings could take place between the Lieutenant Governor and senior representatives of the Centre before a final decision is announced on Shri Amarnath Ji yatra, according to sources.
Last year, the Shrine Board had cancelled the yatra due to pandemic. Only “Chhari Mubarak” was taken to the holy cave shrine by Mahant Deependera Giri Ji, custodian of the holy Mace, and other Sadhus. In 2019 also, the yatra was cut short by about 15 days ahead of Central Government’s decision to abrogate special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcation of erstwhile State into two Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh.
“A decision on this year’s yatra will be taken keeping all aspects into consideration mainly the COVID scenario in Jammu and Kashmir,” sources pointed out.
Army chief Gen MM Naravane during his visit to Kashmir a day before had stated that the Army was fully prepared to provide security for the pilgrimage but a decision on the yatra had to be taken by the administration.
Apart from Shri Amarnath Ji yatra, according to sources, the Lieutenant Governor and the Union Home Secretary also reviewed security situation in the Union Territory especially the Kashmir valley in the wake of political killings the latest one of BJP leader and Tral Municipal Committee Chairman Rakesh Pandita by the militants.
Though large number of militants have also been killed or arrested in the Valley, the Central Government is of the view that the political killings have to be stopped and all those on hit list of the militants need to be protected.
Prior to Rakesh Pandita, few other BJP leaders have also been killed by the militants in Kashmir.
Sources said Army, Central Armed Police Force and Jammu and Kashmir Police could step up operations against the militants in the Kashmir valley shortly. The anti-militancy operations have suffered during past two months because of COVID, a fact Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh has also admitted recently as major focus of entire administration including police was shifted towards Corona management and enforcing lockdown and other COVID-related restrictions.
COVID management in Jammu and Kashmir also came up for high-level review in the meeting between Sinha and Bhalla.
The Central Government has appreciated the COVID management in Jammu and Kashmir. Situation on COVID front has stabilized in Jammu and Kashmir with casualties and cases coming down after peak leading to partial Unlock in
the Union Territory.
The Central Government will continue whatever assistance is required by Jammu and Kashmir in tackling pandemic, sources said.
The Lieutenant Governor is likely to meet more representatives of the Central Government tomorrow before returning to Jammu and Kashmir on Monday.(By Daily Excelsior )
