“The Amarnath Yatra Shrine Board is only a service providing agency to the pilgrims and not the administrative authority to take decisions on pilgrimage. It is creating unnecessary controversy over the Amarnath Yatra,” said the VHP spokesperson Dr Surendra Jain. He was speaking at a Karyakarta Sammelan in Jammu on May 20. Accusing the Board for hurting the sentiments of Hindus, Dr Jain said 70 per cent officials in the Board are non-Hindus. He said the Yatra would commence from Jayeshtha Purnima on June 4 and 50,000 Bajrangis would join it. He also criticised the Governor of Jammu & Kashmir for allegedly hurting the sentiments of Hindu community by intentionally reducing the yatra duration.
Speaking on the occasion Shankaracharya Swami Vasudevananda Saraswati said the Yatra should start on the due date as per the Hindu traditions. Swami Rameshwar Das, Mahant of Purani Mandi temple, Mahant Swami Kumar and the VHP State president Dr Rama Kant Dubey also shared the dais. (Khajuria S Kant in Jammu)
