President Dogra Sadar Sabha J&K and former minister Th. Gulchain Singh Charak held a press Conference at the Sabha Bhawan Dogra Hall along with his Core Group members and extended warm welcome to the pilgrims (Yatris) of Shri Amarnath Ji in J&K and prayed to Bhagwan Shiv for their successful pilgrimage and his divine darshan in the form of “Bhole Baba Barfani” at the ancient Cave Shrine in Kashmir. The Yatra begins this year from July 1, (Ashad Poornima) He also assured on behalf of “Dogra Sahayita Kendra” a unit of Dogra Sadar Sabha in colabration with “Dogra Education Trust” and “Shree Laxmi Narayan Mandir Management Trust” Gandhi Nagar Jammu to provide a free Ambulance service for emergency use if needed by any pilgrim for evacuation to nearest government hospital facility. Masks, Sanitizers, Water & Food packets etc to the needy will also be provided. In this connection Sh Charak shared the Helpline Number 0191-2543589 with the press for the convenience of pilgrims.
Echoing the pious sentiments of the devotees of “Bhagwan Shiv” from all over the country and different parts of the world and also in view of the occasional blockade of Jammu – Srinagar National Highway 44 due to frequent landslides that creates congestion and inconvenience to pilgrims in Jammu city, Shri Charak appealed to the Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor and the local administration to make all possible arrangement during such an event to expose the stranded pilgrims to different religious and historically important temples and Pilgrims centers in Duggar Pardesh dedicated to Bhagwan Shiv, like Purmanda/Utterbehni in Samba, Shiv Khori in Reasi, Devika and Sudh Mahadev in Udhampur. Shri Charak demanded that the government should make free transport arrangements for the purpose by providing an adequate number of buses of the J&K Road Transport Corporation, etc. And also provide good camping facilities for the pilgrims at suitable sites. He further suggested that enroute, tours should be organised for the pilgrims to the places of tourist interest like Veer Bhumi Park Samba, Mansar and Surinsar lakes, flower parks Chattha, Balidan Stambh at Jammu, Jamvant Gufa, Mubarak Mandi Heritage Complex, Jumbo Zoo and other nearby places. These measures will go a long way in promoting the tourism sector of Jammu region, he said.
Some civil society members raising concern over the reports in some sections of press about inadequate arrangement of water and overhead shelter for pilgrims standing in queue for hours together in hot sun or rain while waiting for registration at the places designated for registration at Jammu. He urged the authorities to take all necessary steps to solve such problems being faced by them.
Complimenting the security forces and the JKP for their security arrangements, he requested the pilgrims and the local population to extend full cooperation and help to the security forces who are working much overtime to ensure our security and safety and bear with small inconveniences that may occur.
The Sabha once again reiterated their requested to Hon’ble Lt Governor for speedy construction of the “Srinagar Balidan Stambh” at Pratap Park that would multiply national tourism as another pilgrimage to Srinagar by those families who will have names of their bread earners enshrined in the Memorial. DSS requested for an additional dimension to the Srinagar memorial by erecting a wall of Honour with names of all terror victims killed by terrorists 1989 onwards. That would not only be a honourable tribute but bring some solace to the bereaved families and keep them connected to their roots.
Prominent among others present during the press conference were Prem Sagar Gupta, Col Dr Virendera K. Sahi, Gambir Dev Singh Charak, Amanat Ali Shah, Ravi Singh Slathia, Janak Khajuria and Chhankar Singh.
