VHP’s nationwide bandh today

The VHP calls for a nationwide bandh on Thursday to protest against the J&K government’s decision to revoke the transfer of land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, reports Sweta Ramanujan-Dixit.

After the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has called for a nationwide bandh on Thursday to protest against the Jammu and Kashmir government’s decision to revoke the transfer of land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board.

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The VHP has also threatened to stop Friday prayers on roads outside mosques across the country if the Amarnath pilgrimage was stopped. “The forest act issue is just an excuse,” VHP general secretary Venkatesh Abdeo said on Wednesday. “This is a conspiracy to stop the Amarnath pilgrimage. Tomorrow it will be Vaishnodevi and Tirupati.”

Criticising the ‘Hurriyatisation’ of the Jammu and Kashmir government, the VHP said attempts were being made to repeat what happened in 1990. “Jehadis want to create terror and stop Hindus from going there. And the Congress government is succumbing to pressure from the Muslims,” Abdeo said.

He said that if the Amarnath pilgrimage is stopped then the land on which Haj Houses stand should be returned to the government. “We will urge Hindus to boycott handicraft and other articles sold by Kashmiri Muslims,” said Abdeo. He also demanded that Article 370 be revoked and every Indian be given the right to reside in the Valley.

Meanwhile, agency reports from Jammu said the army was deployed in Samba town on Wednesday as violent protests continued over the Amarnath issue.