MEMORANDUM SUBMITTED TO HON’BLE MINISTER OF STATE DR.JITENDER SINGH

Kausarnag is an ancient pilgrimage like Amarnath. Before the forced exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in 1989 Kashmiri Hindus would undertake this Yatra every year. The river Vishoka Veshav in Kashmiri) as per belief is considered the incarnation of Lakshmi in Kashmir and since time immemorial this Yatra is being taken. The name Kausar Nag comes from Karm Sarovar Nag.

After a gap of 25 years Kashmiri Pandits decided to re-start this Yatra once again. The permission was sought from Government of J&K through formally submitting a request to the Deputy Commissioner of Kulgam District and the permission was duly given by him on 2nd July,2014. Accordingly arrangements were made for the Yatra.

The separatists started protesting against the Yatra saying it was a plan to change demography of Kashmir. They circulated posters against India, Kashmiri Pandits and the Yatra. In these posters they called Kashmir a Muslim Land.The posters read that India plans to change the demography of Kashmir on the lines that Israel has done.The posters were pasted all over South Kashmir. The separatists also started a campaign saying that the Yatra will destroy fragile environment. Nothing can far from truth than this.The Ahrbal Development Authority is inviting tourists to this lake. How can 50 Pandit pilgrims destroy the environment when thousands of house boat hotels in Dal are not doing it?

The separatists also started protests by means of stone pelting, burning of tyres, blocking of roads so as to threaten the Yatris.On 30^th evening the Deputy Commissioner of Kulgam told a news correspondent that they have cancelled the permission although we have not been formally given any communication so far.The Deputy Commissioner obviously under pressure from CM Omar Abdullah cancelled the permission saying that the Yatra should be taken via Reasi saying that ,that is the traditional route for the Yatra. The Yatra route always has been Shopian-Kongwatan-Kausarnag.

This was an abject surrender by the State government in the face of protests by the anti nationals. The Yatris who had come from Delhi, Pune and Jammu were left with no option but to go back .

We request the Hon’ble Minister to

1.      Intervene and ask the State Government to re-issue the permission for the Yatra which was cancelled at the behest of the separatists.

 

2.      To be kind to Ensure Security for the Yatra via its traditional Route ie.Shopian and not Reasi ,this is not the Yatra Route.

 

Submitted by

Kashmiri Pandits  on 1^st Aug,2014