KL Report
Srinagar
Ahead of Syed Ali Geelani’s threat to launch an agitation over the alleged permanent construction on the road leading to Hindu Shrine of Amarnath, government on Wednesday flew few journalists to counter the allegations of Geelani.
A group of journalists was flown by the state government in a helicopter on the Balatal-Panjtarni-Holy Cave route for a first-hand account of the condition of the track leading to the 3880-metre high cave, which attracts lakhs of pilgrims from across India every year.
The aerial survey was facilitated by Jammu and Kashmir Police to counter Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Geelani, who had claimed that construction material has been dumped along the routes to the Amarnath Cave for creating permanent facilities, including a motorable road, for the yatries.
Geelani has threatened to launch an agitation if the state government did not shelve its plans, as claimed by the separatist leader, to widen the road.
Geelani has also claimed that he had photographic evidence about construction material which had been dumped along the routes following a direction of the Supreme Court.
The Court had earlier this year taken suo motu cognizance of high number of deaths of Amarnath pilgrims and directed the state government to improve the condition of the tracks and provide necessary healthcare and other facilities to pilgrims for bringing down casualties.
Geelani has also called for disbanding of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) and handing over the management of the Yatra to Kashmiri Pandits besides limiting the number of pilgrims. Geelani has accused SASB of state within state. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had offered a helicopter to the separatist leader for getting a first-hand view of the condition of the tracks.
