New Delhi: Amarnath land issue seems to have given more than what India's leading political parties would have asked for, as even after 38 days of incineration there is no methodical and concrete move from any party to bring Jammu and the Kashmir valley regions back to normalcy. The political fodder as the name Jammu and Kashmir is for rest of the country, it is going to heat up the debate of secularism and appeasement with BJP deciding to launch a nationwide agitation on the issue.
The BJP leaders would be courting arrest in all the state capitals in front of respective Raj Bhawans on August 11, 12 and 13. Announcing the decision of the party leadership, BJP spokesperson, Prakash Javadekar said, "The BJP will continue with its plan to launch "Jail Bharo" agitation for three days beginning 11th of August 2008. All the leaders, MPs and MLAs as well as elected representatives will court arrest along with the people in all the state capitals."
Javadekar also alleged that the 2-month a year lease of land allotted to the Amarnath Shrine Board was withdrawn under the pressure of separatists. He said, "The Country must understand that a false impression was created by separatists that if land is allotted to the Shrine Board, it will erect permanent structures and ensure Hindu settlement and will change the demography of the state. Instead of negating this communal propaganda, the Congress government bucked under this unjustified pressure and revoked the land allotment."
The BJP also reiterated its demand of recalling Jammu & Kashmir Governor N N Vohra. It said that Vohra on the direction of the central government has acted in total insensitivity towards a people's movement. BJP also demanded that the government should immediately initiate negotition with Sangharsh Samiti, that is spearheading the agitation in Jammu and now in the valley as well.
Accusing Congress and PDP of playing politics with the sentiments of Hindu people of the country, Javadekar said that the decision of the Gulam Nabi Azad government to lease out the forest land of about 40 hectares for the purpose of providing pilgrimage facilities for two months a year was even supported by Sheikh Abdullah and Farooq Abdullah. He also released two letters of the Abdullahs dating August 25, 1980 and May 22, 1999 in support of BJP's claim.
The Amarnath Shrine Board land issue issue started flaring up after PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti withdrew support to the Azad government alleging Centre and the Congress of attempting to change the demography of the state. In past five weeks the agitation traversed the boundary of Jammu region and entered Kashmir valley with all the political tentacles.
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