protest

New Delhi: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) on Wednesday began its nationwide protest against the cancellation of land transfer to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) by blocking roads and disrupting train services across the country.

Full coverage: Amarnath land row

In the national capital, VHP activists began their protest at about 9 am, blocking roads in at least 20 places, including ITO, Moolchand, Dwarka, Pitampura and Deepali Chowk. However, the group had Tuesday said vehicles heading to schools and hospitals would not be stopped.

There were also reports of trains being halted by the activists in Mumbai and Uttar Pradesh.

VHP general secretary Parveen Togadia said: “The central government must give the land to the Amarnath shrine board; otherwise our protest will continue.”

For the last two months, Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed unparalleled strife along communal lines over the allotment of 40 hectares of land in north Kashmir to the Amarnath shrine board, which manages the pilgrimage to the cave shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva. The allotment was revoked due to protests in the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley, which incensed people in the Hindu-majority Jammu region.

SEARCH