BJP blames UPA Govt. for the shrine land row

New Delhi, August 9 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday blamed the United Progressive Alliance (UPA)-led Congress government for the ongoing row over the controversial revocation of the forestland allotted to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB).

Addressing a party rally in New Delhi on Saturday, senior leader L. K. Advani alleged that the decision of the Jammu and Kashmir government to rescind the allotment of forestland to SASB was not its own but it was taken on the directions of the Central government.

"The obstacles created by Jammu and Kashmir in the Amarnath pilgrimage (land allotment) is not their own. The decision (of cancelling land allotment to the SASB) taken by the governor (of Jammu and Kashmir) is not his own. He has just carried out the orders of New Delhi. There should be no confusion about that and we will continue our struggle against the double standards (adopted by government)," said Advani.

Party president Rajnath Singh said that the party will extent its full support to the Shri Amarnath Sangarsh Samiti (SASS), the group that is spearheading the agitation over the controversial Amarnath land transfer row.

"I am confident that the revered Amarnath (Shrine board) will get back the land. And I want to assure the people of Jammu that the BJP will extend its full support to the SASS in its campaign (for the land) across the country," said Singh.

A delegation led by Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil has reached Jammu to resolve the dispute over the land transfer row.

The shrine board has also announced extension of its agitation and the shutdown call till August 14.

In Jammu, thousands of people have been protesting against revocation of the order transferring about 100 acres (40hectares) of land to the SASB.

The dispute began after the Jammu and Kashmir government ordered the transfer of forestland to the trust that runs Amarnath. But Muslims in Kashmir were enraged.

The government then backed down on its decision. Many Hindus, in turn were angered. t may be recalled that the Army has deployed around 10,000 extra soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir to keep the situation under control on Thursday.

ANI