Go for gradual re-opening of shrines across Kashmir: Irfan Naqeeb
SRINAGAR, July 6: Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) on Monday demanded reopening of shrines across Kashmir valley so that the devotees could pay their respects at the holy places while maintaining the social and health protocols mandated under COVID-19 guidelines.
In a statement issued here, the JKAP leader Irfan Naqeeb, said that since the government has started easing out the COVID lockdown steadily, the shrines especially in Srinagar should be reopened for devotees to pay their obeisance.
“The government should order local auqaf committees to take sanitization and precautionary measures in light of COVID-19 guidelines at all religious places before granting entry to anyone into these holy sites. This will provide spiritual relief to the devotees who are desperate to visit such holy sites since the COVID lockdown,” Naqeeb demanded.
He stressed on the local auqaf committees to take extraordinary sanitization measures in and around the premises of shrines across the Kashmir valley. “It is unfortunate that the shrines which provide a spiritual solace have to be bolted for regular visitors and devotees since the spread of COVID-19,” Naqeeb observed.
He said the lockdown has also resulted in a huge loss to Auqaf revenue affecting the livelihood of thousands of shrine attendants besides depriving the devotees of spiritual enlightenment.
The JKAP leader said that thousands of devotees are looking forward to paying their respects at the revered shrines and their aspiration can be addressed by allowing them to visit shrines specifically in morning and evening hours.
“The auqaf administration should chalk out a plan to ensure that devotees face no problems during entry or exit. The sanitizers should be kept at strategic points and devotees should be asked to maintain distance from one another while visiting the shrines,” he remarked.
Naqeeb said the COVID lockdown has not only caused huge socio-economic problems in the society but has increased the level of depression among people who have been confined to four walls of their homes for a long time.
“When the people can visit grocery stores, shopping malls and other places of business establishments, why restrict their movement when it comes to pay respect at religious places? The government should pay a heed to the demand of devotees by formulating a plan for gradual re-opening of the shrines for the people,” he demanded.
