'Ready for Amarnath Yatra, decision lies with administration' says

SRINAGAR: The chief of army staff (COAS), General M. M. Naravane said on Thursday that the army is ready for this year's Amarnath Yatra, but the decision to hold the Yatra lies with the civil administration. Addressing the media here on Thursday the COAS said, "We are ready for the Amarnath Yatra. We have taken all the necessary steps although the final decision to hold the Yatra lies with the civil administration".

The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), which organises the annual Yatra, announced on April 22 the temporary suspension of the registration of pilgrims for the Yatra.

The SASB had started online registration of pilgrims from April 15 for the Baltal and Pahalgam routes, which lead to the cave shrine. The 56-day yatra, pending any further decision, is scheduled to start from June 28.

General Naravane said the situation along the LoC as well as in the hinterland has greatly improved even as he urged the people of J&K to shun the path of violence as it will not take them anywhere.

"After being briefed by the commanders on the situation, both on LoC and hinterland, I am glad to say that all the parameters we judge normalcy by, have seen great improvement. There have been few militant initiated incidents.

"There have been hardly any cases of stone pelting, any cases or no case of IEDs in the recent past and all these are indicators of return of a sense of normalcy," he said. These, he stressed, are all indicators that the people want the same and that is a very good sign.

"After such a long time we have reached a situation where peace and tranquility prevail, where people are able to perceive their dreams and aspirations. My message to all, not only youth, would be that when there is peace and tranquility can there be development and when there is development, we will all prosper", the army chief said on the conclusion of his two-day visit to Kashmir. (IANS)

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