Bringing flexibility in their earlier adamant stances, Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) and Baba Amarnath and Buddha Amarnath Yatri Niyas on Monday evening arrived at an agreement to end the stalemate on the issue of commencement of the yatra from June 15.
As per the negotiated settlement, now the board will organise a puja on June 15, which happens to be Jyesth Purnima, to invoke the blessings of Shri Amarnathji at a suitable location in the yatra area, keeping in view the weather and security factors.
The puja will be restricted to four persons (two SASB officials and two representatives of Niyas), who will travel to the venue of the puja and back by helicopter arranged by the board.
Besides them, no pilgrims will be allowed to proceed. “The board however has promised if and when the snow clearing operations are completed, it will allow the yatra even before June 29, depending upon the weather and security scenario,” Niyas convenor Dineshwar Singh said after the meeting.
Earlier, the state government had made it clear that no one will be allowed to take up yatra before June 29, the official date announced by the board for its commencement. However, the Niyas supported by the VHP and other related organisations had opposed the curtailment of yatra and threatened to start it from June 14.
Following the agreement, a statement signed by both the SASB and Niyas representatives was issued maintaining that vigorous efforts are underway to ensure that all yatra-related arrangements are completed well in time so as to enable the board to commence the yatra as soon as the arrangements are in place.