*800 kanals of land set aside for SASB during yatra period Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti (SAYSS) today suspended its more than two-month-long agitation over Amarnath land transfer row after it reached an agreement with the four-member panel appointed by Governor N N Vohra in the wee hours of this morning. Over seven-hour-long detailed discussions between Governor's panel headed by Dr. Sudhir S. Bloeria and the 4-member committee headed by Brigadier (retd) Suchet Singh in two rounds concluding at 4.30 AM early this morning, the agreement was signed and the Samiti announced suspension of its agitation. The fourth round of talks was started at 9:00 PM last night. In a joint press conference at Government Guest House Dr. Bloeria and Convenor of the Samiti, Leela Karan Sharma announced the details of the agreement. Dr Bloeria informed that the state government shall "set aside for the use by Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, exclusively, the land in Baltal and Domail (Compartment No. 63/S, Sindh Forest Division) comprising an area of 800 kanals, traditionally under use for the annual Yatra purposes. "The proprietary status/ownership/title of the land will not undergo any change while the Board will use the aforesaid land for the duration of the Yatra (including the period of making the required arrangements and winding up of the same) for the purpose of user by various service providers according to its needs and priorities," he maintained. He further maintained that the aforesaid land will also be used according to the Board's requirements, from time to time, including raising of temporary pre-fabricated accommodation and toilet facilities by the Board, establishment of tented accommodation by private camping agencies (locals, permanent residents of the state), setting up of the shops by shopkeepers (locals, permanent residents of the State), facilities for ponywalla's and pithuwalla's, provision of healthcare and medical facilities and setting up of free 'langars' by private persons and groups which are licensed by the Board, facilities for helicopter operations and parking of vehicles, arrangements of security by local police/para-military forces and other security agencies and undertaking measures relating to soil conservation, land protection and preservation of ecology. He disclosed that it has further been agreed that the Board shall continue to remain responsible for the overall arrangements of the Yatra on both the routes during the Yatra period including all arrangements as mandated under the provisions of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Act, 2000 A.D. Leela Karan Sharma said, "During the course of discussions, the Committee set up by the Samiti had presented a fourteen-point 'Charter of Demands' for consideration by the state government. The main demands relate to withdrawal of criminal cases against various persons during the period of agitation, provision of compensation to the families of the deceased and to the injured and working out of appropriate packages of financial assistance to compensate losses of the transport sector, trade and industry, horticulture sector, hoteliers and tourist operators. The state government has agreed to examine all these demands in an appropriate manner on time-bound basis." He added that the state government has agreed to extend ex-gratia relief will be released in favour of the next of the kin of the deceased and in favour of permanently disabled and the injured in all cases covered under the existing rules of the state government. He informed that Shrine Board would be reconstituted keeping in view the provisions of the Act and the past precedents while the state government is also agreed that the Law Department in the state government would examine the issue of disposal of LPA in terms of the understanding made herein above within one month. He, however, said that all the issues including the core issue have been settled during the detailed discussions and the state government has verbally agreed to withdraw the cases against the arrested youth under Public Safety Act (PSA) within a week time. The government has also agreed to transfer the Senior Superintendent of Police Samba Prabhat Singh and judicial inquiry will be ordered against him with immediate effect. Replying to a question, SAYSS member Dr Jitender Singh said, "Previously, the land was used but it was not placed under the disposal of Shrine Board. It was the land use of a land lying there and anyone could use it. Now, the land is exclusively placed for Board. It has almost been reserved for Shrine Board and now it is the responsibility and prerogative of the Board to do what it wants to do. We have actually got beyond whatever we demanded." Following is the text of the joint statement and agreement issued at the press conference: 1. 'The Shri Amarnathji Yatra, which has been going on for many centuries, is a shining symbol of communal harmony and brotherhood in Jammu & Kashmir and reflective of the State's composite heritage. The Yatris have been welcomed with open arms by the people of both Jammu and Kashmir Divisions and all required facilities have been made available for them. Sadly, certain decisions of the State Government relating to the Yatra created misunderstandings which led to controversy and agitation and loss of many precious lives. Apart from the damage to property, there has been a colossal loss to the State's economy in different sectors like transport, trade, industry, horticulture and tourism. 2. 'The Yatra to Shri Amarnathji Shrine has traditionally benefitted a large number of local residents, many of whom have crucial dependence on this annual pilgrimage for their livelihood. 3. 'There has been no occasion in the past on which the State Government has failed to provide the required support for the conduct of the Amarnathji Yatra. On the contrary, the extent and nature of governmental support to the Yatra has been progressively enhancing, from year to year. 4. 'In view of the need to seek a peaceful resolution of the fundamental issues, to settle all existing doubts and clarify the continuing responsibility of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir had constituted, on 6 August, 2008, a four-member Committee comprising: Dr. S. S. Bloeria, Advisor to Governor Justice (Retd) Shri G. D. Sharma Prof. Amitabh Mattoo, Vice Chancellor, University of Jammu Shri B. B. Vyas, Principal Secretary to Governor and Chief Executive Officer, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board 5. 'The Committee held three rounds of discussions with the four-member Committee nominated by the Shri Amarnathji Yatra Sangharsh Samiti (SAYSS) which comprised:- Shri Tilak Raj Sharma Brig (Retd) Suchet Singh Prof. Narinder Singh Shri Pawan Kohli 6. 'The Governor has also held discussions with the leaders of political, social, religious, academic and other organizations in the Kashmir Valley. The predominant view, emerging out of the consultations, is that the Amarnathji Yatra, which is a centuries old tradition of J&K's rich composite heritage, will continue to be welcomed and supported by the people of Kashmir, in every possible way. It was also felt that while the Shrine Board could continue to use the land, as in the past, for Yatra purposes, nothing should be done to alienate or transfer the land. While an assuring convergence of views has emerged, the Governor is committed to continuing the consultative process to ensure against any remaining misunderstanding whatsoever on an issue which has earlier led to serious misperceptions and grade human and economic loss. 'Based on detailed discussions and deliberations held in the recent weeks, the following framework of action for resolving the issue relating to the use of land for the period of Yatra by the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, at Baltal and Domail, has been agreed to:- A. 'The State Government shall set aside for the use by Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, exclusively, the land in Baltal and Domail (Compartment No. 63/S, Sindh Forest Division) comprising an area of 800 kanals, traditionally under use for the annual Yatra purposes. B. 'The proprietary status/ownership/title of the land shall not undergo any change. D. 'The Board shall use the aforesaid land for the duration of the Yatra (including the period of making the required arrangements and winding up of the same) for the purpose of user by various service providers according to its needs and priorities. 'The aforesaid land shall be used according to the Board's requirements, from time to time, including for the following:- i. 'Raising of temporary pre-fabricated accommodation and toilet facilities by the Board; ii. 'Establishment of tented accommodation by private camping agencies (locals, permanent residents of the State); iii. 'Setting up of the shops by shopkeepers (locals, permanent residents of the State); iv. 'Facilities for Ponywallahs and Pithuwallahs; v. 'Provision of healthcare and medical facilities; vi. 'Setting up of free Langars by private persons and groups which are licensed by the Board; vii. 'Facilities for helicopter operations/ parking of vehicles; viii 'Arrangements of security by local police/para-military forces and other security agencies as per the arrangements in place here-to-fore; and ix. 'Undertaking measures relating to soil conservation, land protection and preservation of ecology. 2. 'It has further been agreed that the Board shall continue to remain responsible for the overall arrangements of the Yatra on both the routes during the Yatra period, including all arrangements as mandated under the provisions of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Act, 2000 A.D. 3. 'Apart from the above, the Committee set up by the Samiti had, during the course of discussions, presented a fourteen-point "Charter of Demands" for consideration by the State Government. The main demands relate to withdrawal of criminal cases against various persons during the period of agitation, provision of compensation to the families of the deceased and to the injured and working out of appropriate packages of financial assistance to compensate losses of the transport sector, trade and industry, horticulture sector, hoteliers and tourist operators. The State Government has agreed to examine all these demands in an appropriate manner on time-bound basis. 4. 'In particular, as regards the registration of criminal cases against various persons during the period of agitation, it is agreed that all cases of non-serious nature which shall mean bailable and compoundable will be withdrawn. The remaining cases will be reviewed, on the merits of each case, by a Committee headed by Shri Anil Goswami, Principal Secretary (Home) within 60 days. Till the completion of this process, no action will be taken in such cases. Also, specific allegations of atrocities on agitators, based on prima-facie evidence, could also be looked into by this Committee. 5. 'Ex-gratia relief will be extended in favour of the next of the kin of the deceased and in favour of permanently disabled and the injured in all cases covered under the existing rules of the State Government. 6. 'Further, a Working Group, under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary will address all compensation issues relating to both Jammu and Kashmir Divisions and the Central Government will be approached for extending enabling financial support to the State Government for this purpose within a period of two months. To make the exercise meaningful, one representative from each of the affected sectors will be associated with the deliberations of the Working Group. 7. 'The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board will be reconstituted keeping in view the provisions of the Act and the past precedents. 8. 'It is agreed that the Law Department in the State Government will examine the issue of disposal of LPA in terms of the understanding made hereinabove within one month.' Sd/- (Lila Karan Sharma) (Dr. S. S. Bloeria) Convener Advisor to Governor Shri Amarnath of J&K Yatra Sangharsh Samiti Amarnath land restoration Govt to issue fresh order: Samiti KT NEWS SERVICE JAMMU, Aug 31: Terming it as auspicious day in the history of Jammu and Kashmir, Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti (SAYSS) today said that the government would issue fresh orders on Amarnath land restoration cancelling the previous orders. "After independence, the Jammu agitation was the biggest ever movement in the history of the country as it was a mass movement led by the people," SAYSS Convenor Leela Karan Sharma claimed while talking to reporters here this afternoon. He said that the administration would cancel all the previous orders on Amarnath land, issued before July 1, 2008, the day when the transfer order was revoked and protests sparked the winter capital. "A fresh order will be issued soon with the reconstitution of the Shrine Board and all other requisites mentioned in the agreement between the government and the Sangharsh Samiti," he added. He, however, also revealed that the Shrine Board will have more representatives from the state than non-state subjects. Crediting the victory to those who sacrificed their lives during the agitation, he said, "I salute the martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for a cause and I dedicate this historical moment to them." The Samiti leaders further said August 31 would always be remembered as 'Rashtriya Vijay Divas' (Nationalist Victory Day) while tributes would be paid to the martyrs every year. He also announced compensation of Rs two-lakh each to the families of eleven martyrs in the first phase, who died during the two-month long agitation and said that injured and disabled would also be compensated.