61 days on, there’s still no solution to shrine row

An end to the agitation in Jammu did not appear imminent as the fourth round of talks between the Jammu and Kashmir administration’s negotiators and the Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti remained inconclusive, reports Arun Joshi.

An end to the agitation in Jammu did not appear imminent as the fourth round of talks between the Jammu and Kashmir administration’s negotiators and the Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti remained inconclusive on Saturday.

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Though the administration is believed to have agreed to set aside 39.88 hectares (100 acres) of land exclusively for use by the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board during the three-month period of pilgrimage, the Samiti insisted on a categorical statement to that effect in the draft agreement.

Samiti leaders proposed further talks before they were prepared put their stamp of approval on the agreement.

On the 61st day of the agitation, the Samiti was busy mobilising people for a rally on Sunday to demonstrate support for restoration of the land originally allocated to the shrine board.

Samiti convenor Leela Karan Sharma told HT: “There will be no compromise as far as land restoration is concerned.”

The Samiti has been demanding exclusive use of the land for erecting shelters for Amarnath pilgrims, who have so far been living out of camps on the land at Baltal.