No need of any probe of Lingam dispute: Shankaracharya

Jammu, July 2 (UNI) Kashmir Peetham Shankaracharya Swami Amritanand today said there is no need of any probe into the alleged ice lingam controversy at Amarnath because it was created by some vested interest to scuttle the two-month pilgrimage.

Talking to mediapersons about the investigation ordered by the state government in the controversy, the Shankaracharya said, ''The ice lingam controversy is not such a serious issue which needed to be probed. I feel there is no need of the probe now.'' He further said, ''The Amarnath holy cave is more important. The ice lingam totally depends upon the atmosphere and temperature.'' The Amarnath Shrine Board should tender an apology to the people of the country for making the yatra controversial on the lingam dispute, Swami Amritanand demanded.

The Shankaracharya ruled out the involvement of Jammu and Kashmir Governor Lieutenant General S K Sinha in the much published lingam controversy.

''The Governor could not be held responsible for the alleged man-made Shiva Lingam. It is the vested interests who tried to scuttle the two-month pilgrimage by blowing up the issue,'' he said.

In reply to a question, the Shankaracharya said the Amarnath yatra should be made a year long affair with better facilites and Jammu and Kashmir government should consider this seriously.

The Shankaracharya also appealed to the devotees to visit the Amarnath shrine in large numbers dispite the controversy.

UNI HGV SHB RAI1954