SRI NAGAR: The migrant Kashmiri Pandit group - All Parties Migrants Co-ordination Committee (APMCC), on Monday slammed the Jammu and Kashmir Government and separatists for stopping the Pandits yatra to Kousar Naag, a glacial spring in South Kashmir.
The APMCC, which was the organisers of Kounsar Naag Yatra for Kashmiri Pandits, has alleged that the yatra has been disallowed by the government.
“We had informed administration one-and-a-half month ago on our yatra to Kousar Naag. We had informed them that there will be around 40 pilgrims only after which the administration issued instructions to other departments to facilitate the trial yatra and later the final yatra,” said APMCC chairman Vinod Pandit.
He said at no point of time had they said that hundreds or thousands of yatris would visit Kounsar Naag. “The figure of 4,000 was attached deliberately to create commotion which led to present situation creating not only a wedge between the communities but also fear psychosis that Kashmiri Pandits will be harmed if they return to Valley”.
Vinod blamed the National Conference, J&K Government and “mischief mongers” in separatists, mainstream parties, media and intellegentia for creating unnecessary controversy over pilgrimage to Kounsar Naag Yatra, known as Kramsaras Tirtha (Vishnupaad) yatra among Kashmiri Pandits.
APMCC national spokesperson King Bharati questioned the wisdom of those opposing the yatra of 40 people once a year. “If a visit for two hours by 40 Kashmiri Pandits can pollute the area, how would the government, separatists and politicians justify declaring Kounsar Naag as round the year tourist destination”.
He said Kashmiri people had been befooled by some vested interests by hiding the fact and inciting them against Kashmiri Pandits, who were equal state subjects like them.
“It has only exposed the so called secular myth of Kashmiriyat as it was clear these people are against Kashmiri Pandits and not pollution anymore,” Bharati said.
Rejecting reports that they wanted to build a temple on a glacier, Bharati added, “We had no such plans. We want to take around 25 people along to revive the age old tradition of KPs to go to Kounsar Naag and offer water to our ancestors.”