Srinagar, June 26
Both the PDP and the National Conference here today claimed that they have urged Governor N.N. Vohra to revoke the controversial order on the diversion of forest land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) in view of the mounting public resentment.
Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad also held a meeting with the Governor at Raj Bhawan here this evening.
The PDP, meanwhile, said it would stand by its commitment to pull out from the coalition government if the order of diversion of forest land to the Amarnath shrine board is not revoked by June 30.
PDP has set June 30 as the deadline for the government to cancel the order and has already rejected an all-party meeting being convened by the government to address the issue.
Talking to mediapersons, Beig said during his meeting with the Governor he had suggested withdrawal of the controversial order. The PDP expected a solution to the issue within the next few days before its deadline of pulling out by June 30 expires.
Beig made it clear that the PDP was against the order only after Arun Kumar, chief executive officer of the SASB, had given the impression that it had proprietary rights on the land.
“The SASB officials presented it wrongly,” Beig pointed out and added that it was only a diversion for yatra purposes and not transfer. He said the PDP had also suggested to the Chief Minister that if the government could provide all facilities to the Amarnath pilgrims there was no need to divert land to the SASB.
“The Governor has expressed his serious concern over the killings and asked the government to take adequate measures to restore peace,” Beig
said.
