Srinagar: Accusing the separatists of politicising the matter, the Centre on Thursday said there was no scientific evidence to suggest curtailing of the annual Amarnath Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir and maintained that there was no embargo on the annual pilgrimage.
"It (duration of Amarnath Yatra) is a question which has to be addressed scientifically. We have substantial geology survey reports and scientific evidences which show that you can have Amarnath Yatra throughout the year, of course by keeping checks on environment," Union minister Jitendra Singh told reporters.
Separatists, including chairman of hardline Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Shah Geelani, have voiced concerns over the two-month duration of the Yatra and demanded curtailing it to usual schedule to safeguard environment. Singh, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, said there was no embargo on the duration of the Yatra which takes place in the south Kashmir Himalayas, and the duration is determined by the auspicious time.
"There is no embargo. This two-month period is determined by the auspicious time.The dates have been finalised by them (Yatra Board) and we will not interfere in the religious part. They say this is the most auspicious period, but scientifically nowhere is it written as to when the Yatra should take place," he said.
Asserting that India's first Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru, along with his newly married bride, had undertaken the Yatra in the month of February or March, Singh said environmental concerns of the people were genuine but the separatists were politicising the matter. "The environmental concerns are genuine but they (separatists) are trying to politicise the matter. Barring weather problems, there are no other issues," he said
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