BJP leaders court arrest in Patna on Amarnath row

Patna, Aug 12 (UNI) Joining the nationwide agitation of the party over the Amarnath land row, the senior BJP leaders took out a procession march and courted arrest here today.

Thousands of workers under the leadership of the party national general secretary Kiran Ghai along with the party MP and national spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudi led the procession under Raj Bhavan march campaign of the party on the issue.

Soon after the procession arrived near the R Block, the leaders and workers of the party were prevented from moving towards the Raj Bhavan. Later they were detained.

Earlier, the Ministers in the Nitish Kumar government - Ashwani Kumar Choubey, Ramnarayan Mandal, Giriraj Singh and other senior leaders, inclduing Mr Rudi and Ms Ghai, addressed the meeting before taking out the procssion.

Addressing the meeting, Ms Ghai said then contentious issue of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) would be resolved only after the land was handed over to the board.

She alleged that the Congress government had exploited the issue to take political mileage with an eye on the vote bank.

The Congress attempt had shattered the communal harmony in Jammu and Kashmir. Amarnath Yatra, which was a unique example of communal harmony, was now under rough weather, she said alleging that the land allocated to the SASB was withdrawn under pressure from divisive forces.

She further alleged that the government succumbed to the pressures of Pakistan-supported disruptive forces.

She said the troubled valley of Jammu and Kahsmir, which was on the powder-keg because of the terrorist activities, was now burning because of the policies of its own government.

The Amarnath issue should not be viewed as an issue related to Jammu and Kashmir as it was matter of faith and belief of crores of people of th country, said Ms Ghai.

She also stated that the BJP would continue its agitation till the land was reallotted to the SASB.

She said the government had hurt the sentiments of crores of people by taking back the land allotted to SASB for providing facilities to the pilgrims.

It was the NDA, which had provided facilities for Haj during its regime, she stated and added that similar facilities should also be given to the Amarnath Yatris (pilgrims).

UNI RS-KKS SJC RD 1817