(a) whether Shivalinga have been tempered in the holy cave of Amarnath;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether any incidence of illegal entry by some people into the holy cave of Amarnath have
come to the notice; and
(d) if so, the action taken by the Government against the guilty persons and to check such
incidents in future?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI SRIPRAKASH JAISWAL)
(a) to (d): As per the information made available by the State Government of Jammu and
Kashmir, before commencement of Amarnath Ji Yatra, forces comprising of various units are
deployed to sanitize and secure the rout/track as also Holy Cave site and such groups do have
darshans of the Shiv Lingam for divine blessings. During the current year-2007, soon after
deployment of security forces to different places on Amarnath Ji yatra track before the
official commencement of yatra to Holy Cave, some Army/Security forces jawans performed pooja
at the Holy Cave collectively as well as individually during which they lit Agarbatties/
Dhoppa, etc. and also physically touched the fully formed Shiv Lingam at Holy Cave with
their bare hands mainly to seek diving blessings. Besides, some civilians to had Darshans
of Shiva Lingam at the Holy Cave.
A religious preacher performed a week long Ram Katha/Hawan at the Holy Cave
before formal commencement of yatra. It has been learnt that some NRIs have utilized helicopter
sorties from, Baltal to the Holy Cave to participate in the Ram Katha. Nothing as could be
termed as desecration of Shiv Lingam has been reported to have happened at the Holy Cave.
Similarly the entry can not be termed as illegal.