Gov accepts resignation of mahant Giri

Srinagar, Sep 19: Jammu and Kashmir Governor, Lt General (Rtd.) S K Sinha, in his capacity as Chairman, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) has accepted the resignation of Mahant Deependra Giri, custodian of holy Mace of Lord Shiva, as member of the Board.

Mahant Giri had resigned on Friday levelling serious charges against the SASB, including its involvement in the artificial Shivlingam controversy.

A spokesman of SASB said that Mahant Deepdenra Giri in a communication to the Chairman on September 15 had expressed his wish to resign from the membership of the Board and disassociate from its affairs.

The Chairman has accepted the resignation of the Mahant with effect from September 15, the spokesperson added.

He said earlier, the Chairman, in a communication to the Mahant on September 11, had asked him to confirm whether he had made certain comments to the Press against SASB outside the Board meetings. And if so, why did he not consider it appropriate to contact the Chairman or the Chief Executive Officer about any of these matters before rushing to the media as both of them were present in Srinagar and he could have readily contacted them.

The communication further referred to the 8th Board Meeting on February 15, 2005 and 10th meeting on December 2, 2005, in which Mahant Giri was also present and wherein the decision with regard to holding of a two month yatra was taken without he raising any objection.

The spokesman said contrary to his stand during the meeting the Mahant later started issuing statements opposing this decision.

Mahant Giri had told reporters here that he has resigned and disassociated himself from the affairs of the SASB. However, he said he could continue to work in his own capacity to maintain the sanctity of the annual pilgrimage. Referring to media reports that SASB has decided to allow the Amarnath yatra throughout the year, he said. ''I disassociate myself from this decision because I consider it an act against the age-old tradition and the sanctity of the yatra which is being held in the month of Shravan (July-August) for centuries,'' he said.

He said raising an artificial Shivlingam at the Holy cave shrine this year has badly hurt the religious sentiments of the devotees.

He said after protests by the pilgrims, the SASB admitted to have procured dry ice from a factory not for raising an artificial Shivlingam but for cooling the cave.

This admission, he said, surprised all including him. The SASB had never taken any decision to procure dry ice, he said.

He said he was of firm opinion that this annual pilgrimage should be conducted during the month of Shravan only as per the age-old religious customs and traditions.

He also said how a private television channel showed two people moving on the sanctum sanctorum with their shoes on thereby hurting the religious sentiments of the pilgrims on June 28 this year.

The artificial Shivlingam controversy affected the pilgrimage rush this year as only three lakh devotees from different parts of the country and abroad visited against five lakh pilgrims last year.

UNI