Shorten Amarnath Yatra period to save ecology: Geelani

Srinagar, March 19 (IANS) Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani Friday demanded that the annual Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage period be reduced from the present two months to save the delicate ecology of the Kashmir Himalayas.

Addressing a Friday congregation in south Kashmir's Anantnag town, the Hurriyat group chairman said: "I am not against the Hindu pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave, but the continuation of the yatra for two months is causing irreparable damage to the forest ecology in Baltal and Pahalgam areas.

"The yatra period should be reduced to a reasonable length in order to save the ecology of our mountains," the senior separatist leader said.

He also denied having issued any 'fatwa' and said, "I have not issued any fatwa for or against anything recently and I don't believe in issuing fatwas."

Geelani has been addressing public meetings both in the north and south of the Valley since his return from New Delhi on March 11.

The authorities here maintain they have not restricted Geelani's movements and therefore there is no basis to media reports that he had been giving the authorities the slip in order to reach the venue of his public meetings.

"We have not put any restriction on his movements and, therefore, the question of Geelani giving a slip to us does not arise," said a senior police officer here.