Amarnath board commercializing pilgrimage: SAYWO

PATIALA: Besides threatening to approach the court, members of Shri Amarnath Yatra Welfare Organization (SAYWO) have written a letter to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) authorities to stop the sale of packed 'prasad' near the holy cave of Amarnath. The members have alleged that SASB authorities have been trying to commercialize the Amarnath pilgrimage, which is purely a religious affair for Hindu devotees.
The members of SAYWO alleged that the SASB authorities have got packets of 'prasad' prepared from a private company of Anantnag."The packets are of small quantity and sold for Rs 101 a piece. The sale of 'prasad' is against Hindu tenets and it should be distributed free near the holy cave," said national president of SAYWO Rajinder Sharma, who was in Patiala on Sunday.
Repeated attempts to contact CEO of SASB R K Goel proved futile. The members of SAYWO alleged the devotees were being misled by SASB authorities and were being cheated. "Instead of offering the required services free, SASB authorities are allegedly trying to fill their coffers by robbing lakhs of devotees of Amarnath," alleged Sharma.
"If all senior authorities of SASB failed to tender an apology from public for this act of sacrilege and stop the sale of 'prasad' within the next six days, we would knock the doors of high court for action," said Sharma.