Shutdown begins in Jammu over Amarnath Shrine Board issue
26 Jun 2008, 1046 Hrs

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Jammu, June 26 (ANI): A shutdown is being observed in Jammu today against the politicisation of allotment of land to the Amarnath Shrine Board.

On Wednesday, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said that an all-party meeting has been convened to find solution to the issue.

"'There will be no constructions on that land until we arrive at a consensus," said Azad. Azad also appealed to the people and the media to help in maintaining peace and harmony in the state.

The Jammu and Kashmir Government has recently transferred nearly 40 hectares of forestland in Baltal area to the Shri Amarnath-ji Shrine Board (SASB) for 23.1 million rupees. The move drew sharp reaction across the political spectrum. It brought together two bitter factions of the separatist All-Party Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference (APHC) to resist the move. The shrine board's CEO Arun Kumar, who is also the Principal Secretary to the state Governor Lt. General (Retired) S.K. Sinha, confirmed this week that the land transfer was "permanent" and legitimate as the shrine board is a state body. While the move implies an implicit approval of the Congress party, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and the National Conference Party have opposed the move. (ANI)