VHP calls for nationwide stir on Amarnath land

New Delhi, Aug 4 (UNI) Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) today gave a call for a nationwide "chakka jam" on August 13, demanding restoration of land transfer order to the Sri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) and threatened a march by Hindus from across the country to Jammu if the demand was not accepted.

Alleging that "Jehadis are blasting the world's and India's economy....the government too (is) doing jehad against the Hindus in India," the VHP International general secretary Pravin Togadia warned that if the land and responsibility of pilgrimage was not restored to the SASB immediately, Hindus would also be forced to take the fight from Jammu to across the nation "democratically".

Announcing the action plan, he called upon the people to march to houses of their respective MPs from tomorrow and asked them to write to their parties endorsing the demand. This 3-day programme would conclude on August 7.

Dr Togadia said this would be followed by a march by 'sadhus and sants' to houses of the Prime Minister and Governors across the country on August 10, also demanding divesting tourism department of Jammu and Kashmir government of the responsibility of conducting pilgrimage to the Amarnath shrine.

These two actions would be followed by "chakka jam" for two hours from 0900 hrs on August 13 all over the country, he said, adding all programmes would be connducted "democratically and peacefully" and ill, disabled and school vehicles would be exempted from their ambit.

Condemning "the police attack" on the media and people of Jammu, the VHP leader said the government had resorted to similar tactics in 1975 by clamping Emergency in the country.

Dubbing the events in Jammu " a conspiracy of jehadis in hand in hand with the government to kick out Amarnath and Hindus even from Jammu now (the) same way as they did in 1990 when 3 lakh Kashmiri Hindus were forced out (of the valley)".

Dr Togadia said the Amarnath land, whose transfer to the SASB was cancelled under the pressure of agitation in the Kashmir valley, was not given to the Board as a free gift by the J and K government, adding the Board had paid Rs 2.31 crore for it.

He alleged that the state government, under pressure of the ''jehadis,'' not only took back the land but also transferred the responsibility of conducting pilgrimage to the state tourism department instead of the Board, an autonomous body.

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