Amarnath land row: J-K Govt., Sangharsh Samiti sign agreement

Jammu, Aug 31 : The Jammu and Kashmir Government and the Shri Amarnath Sangharsh Samiti (SASS) signed an agreement over the shrine land issue early this morning. The four-member panel appointed by the State Governor N.N. Vohra reached an agreement with the Samiti during their fourth round of talks, which started around 9:00 p.m. on Saturday and ended by 5:00 a.m. on Sunday.

After the talks, the Samiti and the panel led by Advisor to J-K Governor Dr.S.S. Bloeria agreed that 800 kanals of land at Baltal would be exclusively used by the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board for the yatra period. No money will be charged for using the forest land.

However, the ownership of the land will not undergo any change.

As per the agreement, the Shrine Board will continue to discharge its responsibilities and it will supervise all arrangements of yatra with the support of the State Government.

After 60 days of agitation, the Samiti suspended their agitation and said that talks were fruitful and people of Jammu achieved a lot.

After the meeting, the Samiti's convenor Leela Karan Sharma said: "We have suspended the agitation for the time being and not called it off, as some of our demands are yet to be met."

The peace formula has been hammered out after nearly two months of conflict following the revocation of land transfer to the Shire Board by the State Government.

Earlier on August 23, the Samiti and the panel held three round of talks.

The Governor's panel included Vice Chancellor of Jammu University Professor Amitabh Mattoo, former Judge of Jammu and Kashmir High Court Justice (Retd) G. D. Sharma and Principal Secretary to Governor and Chief Executive Officer of SASB B. B. Vyas.

The Samiti's committee comprised of Tilak Raj Sharma, Brigadier (Retd) Suchet Singh, Narinder Singh and Pawan Kohli.

ANI