VHP criticises UPA govt's stand on Amarnath Yatra

Agartala, Jul 1: The Tripura unit of the Vishwa Hindu Parisad (VHP) staged protests against the recent controversy over the Amarnath Yatra and the Jammu and Kashmir government's move to withdraw the demand for land acquisition for the pilgrimage.

Party sources said VHP leaders met the Tripura Governor on the issue and discussed the matter at length while criticising the UPA government's stand with regard to the Amarnath Yatra and alleged that Centre was not interested in the welfare of Hindus and was rather vindictive towards the community.

Talking to mediapersons after meeting the Governor, VHP state secretary Nityanada Das alleged that earlier the Mufti Mohammad Syed government in Kashmir had hatched conspiracy against Amarnath Yatris during 2003-04 and the UPA govt had been tolerating their ''anti-Hindu activities''.

''The UPA government bears the cost of plane fare of Rs 20,000 per head for each Hajj pilgrim, besides other logistics and the number of Hajj pilgrims has been increasing every year which now stands at about 1.6 lakh and total government expenditure is Rs 240 crore annually. However, the Centre has imposed religious tax at 10.2 per cent on each Hindu pilgrim, which has proved their anti-Hindu attitude,'' Mr Das pointed out.

He said Jammu and Kashmir Governor and Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) Chairman N N Vohra had succumbed to the pressure of protests of Muslim fundamentalists, political parties and separatists and made the anti-Amarnath Yatra statement.

The party warned that unless the issue was resolved, the VHP would soon launch a nationwide agitation and demanded dismissal of the Ghulam Nabi Azad-led Congress government in Kashmir.

UNI