Reacting on the terror attack on Amarnath pilgrims near Anantnag in the terrorist-affected Jammu & Kashmir, Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s (VHP) Gujarat’s unit general secretary Ranchhod Bharwad said that next year the right wing organisation would make it a point that at least 50,000 pilgrims from Gujarat visit the pilgrimage.
‘‘VHP has decided to give memorandum to all the district collectors in the State against the attack on innocent pilgrims from Gujarat and Maharashtra. We have also planned to stage protests across the State in legitimate manner to condemn the attack,’’ said Bharawad.
Meanwhile, South Gujarat towns Valasad and Pardi remained completely closed on Wednesday in protest of terror attack on Amarnath pilgrims. Owners of shops and other business establishments voluntarily joined the bandh to pay respect to the victims of terror attack as well as to show anger towards terrorists. Of the seven victims Hasuben Patel and Ratanben Patel were from Vadoli village situated near to Valsad and Pardi in the Southern part of Gujarat.
Meanwhile, one of the injured in the terror attack Ilaben Prajapati who belongs to Paradi town said that despite she lost her sister Champaben Prajapati in the attack, she would like to visit Amarnath pilgrimage again.
‘‘I visited the pilgrimage two times and willing to go there to offer prayer to lord Shiva once again’’, she said, adding that stringent action from Indian armed forces required to curb attacks on pilgrims. The people of Kashmir are getting employment as a result of flourishing tourism, she opined, adding that the terrorits need to be eliminated so that people of Kashmir prosper. According to her attack was initiated from driver’s side and hence those who were sitting in front seats got injured.
It is worth mentioning that many pilgrims scheduled to visit Amarnath shrine are not changing their plans to visit the terror prone Jammu & Kashmir. In fact they are now more determined to offer prayer to lord Shiva by performing Amarnath Yatra. A group of six people including Chetan Patel is schedule to visit Amarnath from July 22. According to Patel none of in his group dropped plan for pilgrimage despite brutal terror attack on last Monday. He however said that he and his friends would be more careful to avoid any untoward incident. Ahmedabad based tour operator Manish Sharma echoed that he and other tour operators were more determine to take pilgrims to Amarnath and they wouldn’t cancel single trip.