Shravan Krushna Trayodashi
Srinagar (J&K): The resolution to the Amarnath land row looked imminent on Thursday even as the talks between J&K governor N N Vohra-appointed panel and the Shri Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti, spearheading the agitation for the restoration of the forestland to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), were postponed till Friday.
Sources said the government has "in principle" agreed to allow SASB to use the 100 acres of disputed land at Baltal during the two-month-long pilgrimage. "The panel has also agreed to reconstitute SASB and induct members from the state into it," a source said and added SASB would now be responsible for the annual pilgrimage to the south Kashmir Himalayas. The state government had taken over the responsibility of the Amarnath yatra after it revoked the cabinet’s decision to transfer the land to the SASB.
Sources said Vohra met a cross section of Kashmiri leadership including ex-CM Ghulam Nabi Azad, National Conference patron Farooq Abdullah and Union water resources minister Saifuddin Soz on Thursday to offset the likely fallout of an agreement with the Samiti.
The Samiti activists, meanwhile, looked upbeat on the 59th day of their agitation in anticipation of an agreement. "We’re preparing for celebrations," Janipur-resident Raj Kumar said.
"The Janipur residents have brought crackers for the celebrations. The celebrations would begin as soon as the agreement is announcement," Kumar said.
Earlier, the fourth round of talks between the Samiti and governor’s panel were deferred due to the indisposition of the panel’s chief S S Bloeria.
"We’ve submitted our demands in writing to the panel and are expecting a favourable response," Samiti spokesperson Narinder Singh said. Samiti’s four-member committee had earlier held three rounds of talks with the panel to resolve the land transfer row. The talks remained inconclusive but the two sides agreed to resume discussions at a later stage.
Source: Times of India
