Politics Over Yatra

M.Kaiser
The two month long pilgrimage to Amarnath, in south Kashmir, is set to begin at the end of this month. Although yatra is a religious event and has been taking place peacefully since many past years with the
help of local population. Despite the good past experience of Yatra, central government has triggered panic over security of pilgrims. According to security agencies and Indian Home Ministry, the annual Amarnath Yatra is facing a terror threat and some elements might try to disrupt the pilgrimage. However, the state government contradicted to the statement of Home Minstry. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had said there was no increased threat perception to this year’s Amarnath yatra compared to previous years and fears of attack as reported in
the media were “gross exaggeration”. Hurriyat Conference chairman Syed Ali Geelani also denied any threat to yatra and described the statement of Indian Home Ministry as “a calculated move aimed at maligning and discrediting the political struggle of Kashmir”. He had also stated that the main objective of the ‘Operation Shiva'”, (a multi-pronged and multi-layered security arrangements, launched to provide security militant attacks.) is “to handover the Yatra route to the armed forces”. Pertinently, S A Geelani has been demanding that
yatra affairs should be handed over to Kashmiri Pandits and its duration should be decreased. While the statement by the central Home Minister S.K Shinde, Omar Abdullah or S.A Geelani may have some political element in it, but government as administration certainly needs to focus on some different issues rather than on just security. Last year many people died during the yatra period due to health related reasons. Pilgrims also die due to road accidents on the Jammu Srinagar highway. Government faced severe criticism over these deaths.
Now when the new yatra period is starting, rather than focusing on cause that took many lives last year, government is highlighting only terrorism threat. As a precautionary measure it is fine to provide good security to pilgrims but at the same time government must take care of other issues related to yatra.