BJP blames JK govt for Amarnath yatra ''chaos''

Jammu, Jul 4: BJP today (Jul 4) blamed the Jammu and Kashmir government for "total failure" to ensure a trouble-free Amarnath yatra and alleged that some officials were responsible for creating chaos.

"Worst type of situation prevailed in Jammu during the past 24 hours due to failure of government and divisional administration to regulate and ensure trouble-free Amarnath yatra," BJP state president Shamsher Singh Manhas told reporters here.

"The state government and top divisional authorities should own responsibility for creating a chaotic situation in Jammu by stopping traffic on the highway. Punishment should be given to the officials responsible for creating such a bad situation," he said.

Manhas claimed that the government was deliberately trying to stop the yatra by not making arrangements for food and shelter for pilgrims which include women and children.

There was a huge influx of around 50,000 pilgrims after the yatra was suspended due to landslides, causing heavy rush at the Amarnath cave, Baltal and Pahalgam routes.

As result of the rush, police stopped Amarnath-bound vehicles from Lakhampur, Kathua, Samba, Nagrota, Patnitop and Ramban which caused heavy traffic jams.

"Police not only stopped Amarnath pilgrims, but also Vasihnodevi pilgrims, Kashmir-bound people and locals. There was no governance seen on the ground," Manhas claimed.

PTI