Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 11: Senior leaders of Congress today criticized the Government and district administration for the utter neglect and failure to address the grievances of stranded Shri Amarnath pilgrims.
A team of PCC office bearers headed by former Minister Raman Bhalla, vice president, Vikram Malhotra, Manmohan Singh, general secretaries and Sanjeev Sharma interacted with the stranded Shri Amarnath pilgrims at various places including Yatri Niwas at Bhagwati Nagar.
The pilgrims who are stranded all along the national highway are facing great shortage of food, safe drinking water, toilets, etc. The pilgrims complained that no body from State Administration approached them to enquire about their problems. Most of them are facing shortage of money for their basic needs.
There is complete break down of law and order machinery in Kashmir province which has led to attack on yatris. There have been reports that there were attacks on yatris.
The leaders urged upon the Government to ensure safety of the pilgrims and take steps to ensure smooth conduct of Yatra at the earliest so that the stranded yatris can fulfill their desires of having darshan of holy cave of Shri Amarnath Ji.
Congress leaders emphasized that to ensure entire security arrangement is the duty of Centre and State Government and added that this is the first time in the twenty years of militancy when the Shri Amarnath Yatra has been abandoned for security reasons and both Centre and State Governments are responsible for it.
They urged upon the Government to deal firmly with anti-national elements who are trying to destroy the communal harmony and traditional brotherhood in the State.
Meanwhile, the District Congress Committee (Urban) Jammu under the leadership of its president Anil Chopra, held a strong protest demonstration, here today, against the failure of Government to provide security to Amarnath Yatris.
Congress workers, carrying playcards in their hands, assembled near Press Club Jammu. Amidst chanting slogans against Centre and State Governments for their utter failure to provide adequate security to the Amarnath Yatris, they burnt the effigy of Government.
Speaking on the occasion, Anil Chopra said that peaceful conduct of Amaranth Yatra was the duty of both Centre and State Governments but it was unfortunate that both the Governments were working directionless and have miserable failed to protect the lives and property of the common man and become mute spectators when thousands of Amarnath Yatris are facing great hardships.
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