Kulgam, Aug 1, KNT: District authorities Friday denied reports that permission had been granted to the All Pandit Migrants Coordination Committee (APMCC) for conducting a fresh pilgrimage to the Pir Panjal glacial lake Kounsarnag through South Kashmir, with Deputy Commissioner Kulgam Nisar Ahmad Wani asserting that no such approval was ever issued.
Terming reports of permission as baseless, Wani said the district administration had never granted consent for the pilgrimage from the South Kashmir route.
“A group of Pandits approached me and sought permission to conduct the Kounsarnag Yatra from South Kashmir. I did not give permission but directed the Superintendent of Police Kulgam to provide foolproof security if they wished to perform yatra at Kounsarnag,” Wani said.
Rejecting claims that authorities had first granted and later withdrawn permission, the Deputy Commissioner said there was no truth in such reports.
Wani maintained that the proposed pilgrimage would not be allowed through the Pir Panjal foothills in South Kashmir and reiterated that the yatra could only operate through its traditional route in Reasi district.
“No yatra would be allowed to Kousar Nag from the Pir Panjal foothills in South Kashmir. Yatra will operate only through its traditional route in Reasi district,” he said.
The Deputy Commissioner further said that if members of the group that had approached him on June 21 had created an impression that permission had been granted, then people had been misled.
Meanwhile, All Pandit Migrants Coordination Committee Chairman Vinod Pandit criticized the district administration and accused authorities of reversing their position under pressure.
Pandit alleged that the Deputy Commissioner had issued a formal order permitting the organization to undertake the pilgrimage through South Kashmir.
“DC Kulgam is backtracking because he is feeling the pressure of communal elements,” Pandit alleged.
The conflicting claims have revived debate surrounding the Kounsarnag pilgrimage route, which has remained a sensitive issue in Kashmir owing to religious, environmental and administrative concerns. [KNT]
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