The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Shrine Board row

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Monday, Jul 07, 2008
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Shrine Board row

The demand by the people of Kashmir that the order of transfer of forest land to the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board be revoked was not communal in nature. Even Kashmiri pundits should have opposed the land transfer because the issue was not about denying facilities to the Amarnath yatris. It was about protecting the land that belongs not only to the Muslims of Kashmir but also Hindus and Sikhs. Unfortunately, the spontaneous reaction of the people has been given a communal colour by the vested interests.

What was the purpose of the nation-wide bandh called by the VHP and the BJP? Is it their case that the SASB alone can provide facilities to the yatris? Cannot the Kashmir government provide similar facilities to the devotees without transferring the authority to the Board?

Saleem Mir,

New Delhi

* * *

The Kashmir government’s decision to make land available to the yatris through the Tourist Department should have been taken in the original instance.

Having said that, I feel the intention behind allotting the 39.88 hectares of forest land to the SASB was good — it was indeed to facilitate the Amarnath yatra and not to add property for the Board or, as local leaders claim, reduce Muslims to a minority. A piece of land is certainly not worth it if it disturbs peace and brotherhood, which are the need of the hour.

Firoz Iqbal Khan,

New Delhi

* * *

Instead of infuriating the people of Kashmir by quarrelling over the allotment of a piece of land to the Shrine Board, we should make them believe that they are part of our nation. The differences should be removed gradually. Haste will only lead to further problems.

Tanuja Prasad,

Varanasi

* * *

The States in which the saffron parties rule provide a virtual licence to anti-social forces to indulge in violence, with the police turning a blind eye to the happenings. There is an urgent need to build a national consensus on the need to eschew all forms of violence which affects those who have nothing to do with the issue fomenting unrest. A usually peaceful city like Indore has been witness to communal tension because the powers that be did not take action to nip the problem in the bud.

R. Vijaykumar,

Indore

* * *

By cancelling the order to allot land to the Shrine Board, the J&K government might have given in to the wishes of the people in the Valley. But it has completely disregarded the sentiments of the people of Jammu. It has buckled under pressure instead of facing the challenge to its authority.

Jetling Yellosa,

Nizamabad

* * *

Very few people are aware of the felling of trees and the destruction of forests from Budhal to Shopian during the construction work undertaken to restore the Mughal Road. There is not even a murmur of protest in the Valley against it.

Sarmi Das Gupta,

Kolkata

* * *

This refers to the article “A monument to hate in Chhatterhama” (July 4). It says in some cases, rural communities have refused to take responsibility for the burial of jihadists. But the truth is, they simply cannot afford to refuse. Kashmiris do not consider those who give their lives for them terrorists, irrespective of the organisation they belong to.

Had the economic condition of the people of Chhatterhama motivated them to join pro-Kashmiri protests and movements, why are the people of Sopore and Shopian joining them in large numbers? In these regions, even the poorest is above the poverty line.

Tanveer Ul Haq,

Shopian

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