Srinagar, Jul 05 (KNS): Saying that Amaranth Yartries are guests to the people of Kashmir and are most welcomed in the valley of saints and Seers, Chairman PDF Hakeem Yaseen has expressed his dismay the way Yara was being managed this year. He said gag put on movement of people in Kashmir on pretext of smooth Amaranth Yatra was beyond ones thinking.

In a statement issued to KNS, Hakeem said that the people of Kashmir have since centuries welcomed Amaranth Yartries as their guests aptly in accordance to their rich traditions of hospitality and communal harmony.

He regretted that myopic planning to conduct Amaranth Yatra this year, has made the religious event an affair against Kashmiris. He said in the name of smooth conduct of Amaranth Yatra this year, heavy restrictions have been imposed on the movement of civilians both on national highway as well as on rail travel. The ill- conceived planning of Yatra this year has caused a great in- convenience to the people of all sections of the society besides severely affecting livelihood of traders.

"Pertinently the authorities have restricted civilian traffic on 97 km stretch on Kashmir highway for five hours and suspension of trains on Qazigund-Banihal track from 10 am to 3 pm to “facilitate smooth conduct of Amarnath Yatra”.

Hakeem said that due to the restrictions on civilian movement, employees and students are not able to reach to their offices and colleges and the total environment has become as suffocating and unpredictable.

He demanded immediate revocation of restrictions on the civilian movement. He said the annual Amaranth Yatra has remained a successful event in past only due to the whole hearted cooperation of Kashmiris and this year too, local populace was rendering its unflinching support to the ongoing Yatra.

"Every Kashmiri welcomed Yatra, so why to restrict the movement of common populace, " Hakeem questioned, adding that the people of Kashmir are the actual facilitators of Amarnath Yatra. (KNS)