JK Governor denies artificial Shivalingam at Amarnath

Srinagar, June 19 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Governor Lt Gen (Retd) S K Sinha has denied that the Shivalingam (phallic symbol of Lord Shiva) at the holy cave shrine of Amarnath is artificial and said that the entire controversy has been blown out of proportion.

''I inaugurated the two-month-long Amarnath pilgrimage in the presence of media and thousands of devotees. No one said anything at that time. Now suddenly there is all this controversy,'' Gen Sinha said in New Delhi.

The Governor, who is also the Chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) denied that the Shivalingam in the holy cave shrine was artificial.

''There is no artificial lingam there,'' he added.

Gen Sinha said the entire controversy has been blown out of proportion.

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