No desecration of Shiv Lingam at Amarnath: Jaiswal

New Delhi, Aug 14 (UNI) Nothing as could be termed as desecration of Shiv Lingam in the holy cave of Amarnath has been reported, the government informed the Lok Sabha today.

In a written reply, Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal said as per as the information made available by the state government of Jammu and Kashmir, before commencement of Amarnath Yatra, forces comprising various units are deployed to sanitise and secure the route/ track as also Holy Cave site and ''such groups do have darshan of the Shiv Lingam for divine blessings.'' During the current year-2007, soon after deployment of security forces to different places on Amarnath yatra track before the official commencement of yatra to Holy Cave, some Army/Security Forces jawans performed pooja at the Holy Cave collectively as well as individually during which they lit Agarbatties/ Dhoppa etc and'' also physically touched the fully formed Shiv Lingam at Holy Cave with their bare hands mainly to seek divine blessings. Besides, some civilians too had darshan of Shiv Lingam at the Holy Cave,'' Mr Jaiswal said.

A religious preacher performed a week-long Ram Katha/Havan at the Holy Cave before formal commencement of Yatra. It has been learnt that some NRIs have utilised helicopter sorties from Baltal to the Holy Cave to participate in the Ram Katha.

''Nothing as could be termed as desecration of Shiv Lingam has been reported to have happened at the Holy Cave. Similarly, the entry can not be termed as illegal,'' Mr Jaiswal added.

UNI