Buddha Amarnath Yatra to commence July 28

Jammu, May 19 (UNI) The 11-day long Buddha Amarnath Yatra in border district of Poonch of Jammu and Kashmir will commence from base camp here on July 28 and conclude on August 8.

Bajrang Dal National President Prakash Sharma and Vishwa Hindu Parishad State Unit Chief Dr Rama Kant Dubey said that around 15 thousand devotees would participate in the festival.

Mr Sharma said last year 8,000 pilgrims participated in the Buddha Amarnath Yatra and the last batch of Yatra will leave from Jammu on August 06.

He said for the smooth conduct of Yatra, Samitis have been framed at Jammu, Rajouri, Sunderbani, Surankote, Poonch and Mandi.

These Samitis will work in coordination with Baba Buda Amarnath Yatra Samiti, Mandi Poonch, he added.

Mr Sharma said the Yatra will help in restoring the confidence of the minorities living in far flung and militancy infested areas of Poonch and Rajouri districts.

The Bajrang Dal leader also urged the Jammu and Kashmir government to discharge its responsibility towards the smooth conduct of the Yatra by providing security to yatris.

However, he maintained that the Bajrang Dal and VHP will not remain dependent on the political parties support, claiming the entire Hindu populace of the nation was behind us in this mission.

He said the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad, besides the Buddha Amarnath Yatra will also conduct the pilgrimages for Sarthal Mata and Vaisuki Nag in Doda district to restore the confidence of the Hindus living in the hilly reaches of Doda.

Both organisation also demanded the Hindus be given permission to have the pilgrimage of Devi Kali, which is 45 kilometers away from Poonch and Sharda Peeth Temple in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Criticising the government, VHP leader Dr Ramakant Dubey blamed it for its total failure in setting up the base camp for Amarnath yatra at Jammu. The Government was deliberately concentrating on Nunwan and Pahalgam, he alleged.

He urged the governor who is also the chairman of Baba Amarnath Shrine Board to urge the state government to open a base camp at Jammu for Amarnath Yatris.

A Haj house has been set up and not the Yatra Bhavan in Jammu, which is a sheer discrimination with the people, the VHP leader charged.

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