Click to play videoNew Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday revoked the controversial order transferring 39.88 hectares of forestland to Amarnath Shrine Board in a bid to resolve the 10-day-old crisis on the issue.
The decision to cancel the order was taken at a meeting of the state cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad at his residence in Srinagar after the Shrine Board decided against pursuing its claim over the land.
Speaking to CNN-IBN, PDP President Mehbooba Mufti blamed former chief minister Farooq Abdullah for the present turmoil and political crisis in the state.
“The Shrine Board was formed during the NDA regime and Farooq was a partner. Governer Sinha was sent by BJP to implement the hidden agenda. Farooq fell into the trap and now everything is out of hand. Jammu is burning,” Mufti said.
“I don’t think the numbers are on his side because he has messed up everything. All political parties have to think but now things are out of control. He would not have needed outside support, he should have listened to us. Now he stands alone. I don't think anyone will trust him because he has messed up the whole thing,” she added.
In its order, the cabinet directed the Tourism Department to make adequate provisions in its annual budget keeping in view the increasing number of Amarnath pilgrims. This would allow existing facilities for pilgrims to not only to be properly maintained but also upgraded annually.
The cabinet said that land would be made available to the Tourism Department as per the requirements at various locations for the pilgrimage from Jammu onwards to the cave shrine via Baltal and Pahalgam routes.
The cabinet also emphasised that the state government was fully committed not to interfere in the religious affairs of the Shrine Board.
The cabinet decision came in the wake of a letter written by Governor N N Vohra, who is also chairman of the Board, to the Chief Minister on June 29 in which he had stated that the Board did not need to pursue its earlier request for forestland.
Meanwhile, reacting strongly to the state’s decision, VHP has called for a nationwide shutdown on July 3 against Haj subsidy in retaliation to Amarnath land transfer row.
(With agency inputs)
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