SASB dragging Governor office in political controversies: PDP

Srinagar, June 6 (UNI) The war of words between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) intensified today with the ruling coalition partner in Jammu and Kashmir alleging that the religious body was dragging the Governor's office in political controversies.

In a statement here, a PDP spokesman expressed surprise and dismany over the efforts of the SASB to drag the office of the Governor, the constitutional head of the State, in the controversies surrounding the conduct of the Amarnath pilgrimage.

Terming as ''irresponsible and unfortunate'' the statement of a Shrine Board spokesman, he said the SASB was ''unnecessarily trying to create an issue out of simple public grievances''.

''The SASB is regrettably not even desisting from dragging the highest office of the Governor in this controversy pertaining to a highly sensitive matter,'' the PDP spokesman said.

He said the unfortunate trend of politicisation of the Governor's office had increased during the past three years. ''This is detrimental to democratic set-up and can hinder the smooth functioning of democratic institutions,'' the spokesman added.

He said PDP Chief Mehbooba Mufti had yesterday responded to the concerns brought to her notice by the residents from Kangan and Pahalgam areas about some restrictions imposed on them by the SASB.

The PDP president had assured the complainants that she would take up the matter at the appropriate level and there was nothing offensive in her statement for which the Board should have got so panicky, the spokesman said, adding in a democratic set-up the people have the right to bring their grievances to the notice of the political leaders to seek their redressal.

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