‘Amarnath Yatra – a pilgrimage by Hindus – to the cave deep inside in Himalayas in Pahalgam will start on June 29’
Srinagar: The so-called terror threat to the upcoming Amarnath Yatra is “a calculated move aimed at maligning and discrediting the political struggle of Kashmir”, said Hurriyat patriarch Syed Ali Geelani on Sunday.
Denouncing ‘mis-information’ campaign carried by ‘biased’ Indian media, All Parties Hurriyat Conference ailing chief said that people in Kashmir while continuing with the age-old tradition of providing best hospitality to pilgrims have always been friendly and generous to visitors and particularly with Amarnath Yatris.
He said that Amarnath yatra is being conducted for decades and the people here have treated these Yatris with unique hospitality and people have always been hospitable, decent and received them as their guests.
Amarnath Yatra – a pilgrimage by Hindus – to the cave deep inside in Himalayas in Pahalgam will start on June 29. J&K Government has sought more troops to ensure safety of the Yatris who pay obeisance at the cave through Baltal and Chandanwari routes.
Referring to ‘adverse propaganda’ launched by Indian media wherein they are propagating that Amarnath Yatris “are facing threat” from people of state, Geelani said, “terror threat to the upcoming Amarnath yatra is a brazen lie and aimed at to malign freedom movement.”
“Kashmiris are not against any religion or its followers,” he said, “however, they are pursuing a legitimate struggle for their fundamental rights.”
“People for last seven decades are demanding right to self-determination to decide the political destiny of state and India and international community are signatory to these resolutions,” Geelani, who is under continuous house detentio, said in a statement.
“Fanatical forces in India are desperate to give bad name to freedom movement and as such are relying on negative propaganda and following their fanatical dogma,” he added.
Blaming these ‘sectarian’ forces for “playing folly”, Geelani said, “it is deceit and a well-planned ploy to carry their mysterious agenda against people in state.”
Strongly ridiculing Indian media, Geelani said alleged that India is trying to mislead its people and international community by ‘negative and baseless propaganda’.
He stressed on people to aware the Amarnath Yatris about the “reality of the freedom struggle” of Jammu Kashmir while continuing with the age-old tradition of providing best hospitality to pilgrims.
“Indian agencies, Saffron brigade and its biased media are providing mis-information, round the clock about, so-called threat, situations in Kashmir and our freedom struggle,” said Geelani.
“Now,” he added, “they have launched a mis-information campaign saying that people in state have ill intentions against pilgrimage and Yatris.”
Geelani while referring to peoples’ uprising in 2008, 2010 and 2016, said that even in those “gloomy” circumstances, people despite restrictions and curfew received these Yatris with open arms and provided shelter and food.
“It is our age-old tradition,” he said and expected his people to follow the same tradition in future with same spirit and receive these Yatris as “our revered guests”.
Slamming the Indian media, Geelani said that they are working as “voice for Saffron brigade and their fanatical sponsors”.
“These fanatical forces are relying on lame excuse and preparing ground for communal tension against Muslims in Jammu and Kashmir and as such are rhetoric about so-called threat warnings against Amarnath Yatris,” he informed.
The Hurriyat Conference chairperson said that there is no threat to life of Yatris and asked (them) to consider the sufferings of Kashmiris while urging them present the “real picture of our struggle before Indians people and aware them of the historical background of this dispute”.
“It is your duty,” he said addressing Yatris, “it will serve a purpose and people in state will be obliged for this kind of support.”
“Kashmir is a political issue,” he said stressing on the visitors to “feel the pain and see the issue through the prism of humanity”.
“(Kashmir) Issue has nothing to do with extremism or fanaticism,” he added.
