In an effort to keep a check on the environmental effects of increasing spiritual tourism at Vaishno Devi, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has capped the number of pilgrims visiting the shrine at 50,000 per day.
The NGT bench headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar said that only 50,000 pilgrims will be allowed to visit the Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu per day to avoid any untoward incident.
NGT also directed that a new path to the shrine exclusively for pedestrians and battery-operated cars will be opened from November 24. The NGT directed that no horses or mules shall be allowed on the new route to the shrine and these animals shall be removed slowly from the old path as well.
This move came as a response to a plea filed by activist Gauri Maulekhi seeking to remove horses and mules from the path to the shrine, saying it was dangerous for the pedestrians, especially senior citizens.
As soon as the news broke, while others were welcoming and applauding this decision, the saffron brigade saw it as an “anti-Hindu” move.
Here’s what they tweeted:
Folks who would welcome this step should think hard. This is a dangerous encroachment of Hindu space by secular state. Resist. Do not cheer this move.
— Old_School_Engineer (@a_muglikar) November 13, 2017
You have no clue what is the next step after this. If you are cheering this out of anger towards temple mgmt, then you’re being played.
— Old_School_Engineer (@a_muglikar) November 13, 2017
Gradually but at last they willnt allow to visit at all.
— Rishikesh Kumar (@Rishikumar2017) November 13, 2017
Disobey these orders. Nobody can dictate how many Hindus will visit their temples. NGT can go climb a tree https://t.co/RjaRBv1Z5V
— Jiggs (@Sootradhar) November 13, 2017
Thts exactly wht I was thinking jago hindu bhaiyo jago dharam ki raksha karo
— anju purohit (@shakunir) November 13, 2017
Dear @narendramodi This is not acceptable Request you to please disband NGT Hindus are getting fed up of incompetence of BJP @AmitShah
— Raizada K Bali (@krzbali) November 13, 2017
First of all free Vaisnav Devi temple from clutches of Govt bcoz whatever it gets in donation, Govt keeps it & use it for minorities.
— Makodi Pehalwan (@MakodiPehalwan) November 13, 2017
If this is what NGT wants then NGT must also cap visitors to Ajmer Sharif, Churches etc. https://t.co/RjaRBv1Z5V
— Jiggs (@Sootradhar) November 13, 2017
What’s the reason for this ban? NGT in future going to ban Hindus!
— Sidak (@SidakTweets) November 13, 2017
I wonder where ever a there is a judge, he behaves like a dictator be it a High Court, the Supreme Court or even a Tribunal! Don’t we have a DEMOCRACY, where an elected government takes executive decisions? It appears that we have JUDOCRACY instead of democracy! It is enough now!
— Banwari Lal Sharma (@Banwariakoda) November 13, 2017
Time to disband the #NGT and sack the anti Hindu bigots ruling the roost!
— Girish Podar (@GirishPodar) November 13, 2017
Clearly, these hyper Hindus of Twitter missed NGT’s point completely. The decision was taken keeping in mind environmental concerns and pilgrim safety.
