Amarnath Yatra Controversy

Let us talk today about a semi-contemporary story: the recent trouble over the Amarnath Yatra (click here for background) in Kashmir.  For those who are less familiar with the story, the overall picture is one where religion and politics mix and a less than pleasant concoction emerges.  Here's an executive summary of the events so far:

1. Hindu pilgrims visit revered site of Shiva in Kashmir every year.
2. They have been doing it for 150+ years.
3. It is a month-long affair.  Attracts hundreds of thousands from all over.
4. To facilitate the pilgrimage, state (Jammu and Kashmir) government sets up an organization (Sri Amarnath Shrine Board or SASB) under the chairmanship of the state Governor to facilitate the Yatra (or pilgrimage).  
5. Fast forward to 2008, news breaks out that SASB managed to acquire a big chunk of land to build temporary shelters and other conveniences for yatris (or pilgrims).
   
6. That is a big no-no in Indian Kashmir because Kashmiris are sensitive about land acquisition (fears of cultural onslaught from India etc.).
7. Kashmiris are up in arms (both separatist parties and mainstream-or non separatist political parties), government ministers from the People's Democratic Party (PDP) who signed some of the land transfer orders as well as coalition partner Congress party not sure how all this went wrong.  
8. Five Kashmiris die during the protests.  I want to scream at these 5 for getting killed and leaving a void for their families to ponder.  But, they are dead, so screaming at others will have to suffice.
9. The former state governor is accused of playing a part because he is "communal" or anti-secular or whatever.  From all accounts, let's just say that he was behaving more like a yatri than the head of state (who needs to be impartial).
10. The new governor requests that the land order be revoked; government is only too keen to oblige (it is all cooked this way). PDP withdraws from the coalition government (possibly to curry favour with the Kashmiris and to control the political fallout) while the Congress Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad can't figure out what he did wrong.
11. Once the order is revoked, people in Jammu (who are mostly Hindus) get annoyed, to put it mildly.  They want the land to be transferred to the SASB to facilitate a Hindu yatra.  So, anyway, the government is in a no-win situation.  It falls.  Muslims in Kashmir are quiet and happy about "people power"--even as they keep repeating they are not against the yatra (after all, Kashmiri Muslims have been supportive of this event for the longest of times).  Of course, not all Kashmiri politicians are supportive because it is a Hindu event but they don't mention this openly.  It doesn't look nice.
12. The government takes over all arrangements for the yatra--that seems to be fine with pretty much everyone, although some hardliners in Jammu are not pleases with that.  They want the government to withdraw subsidies for Indian Mulsims who perform the Haj every year (sounds reasonable--but may need some research to see what type of subsidy it is).  Also, why should Kashmiris have a Haj House to facilitate their travel to Saudi Arabia for Haj while Hindus can't have some land that no one lives on for building temporary shelters for yatris, many of whom cannot afford the basic necessities of life?  Sounds like a reasonable question.

Anyway, what you have from this summary that turned into a longer piece than intended is that it does get a trifle murky when religion and politics mix.  I think here is some food for thought:

1. Who will foot the bill for the yatra?  I am assuming it will be Indian taxpayers since they fund much of the state government's budget?  Is this good value for tax rupees or should the government stay out of the business of conducting religious events?
2. I am not sure about the ecology of the area but I understand it is a nice place with potential for environmental damage?  What plan exists to make the yatra as green as possible or is that too sensitive a topic to be raised?
3. Shouldn't we have a clear sense of the government's involvement with at least the major religious institutions of the state (Muslim Auqaf Trust, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, SASB etc?)

Until next time...