Sena backs Amarnath Board in Shiv Lingam row

NEW DELHI: Under attack over the tampering of the Shiv Lingam at the Holy cave, the Shri Amarnath Yatra Board on Thursday got unexpected support from the Shiv Sena which said the shrine and not the size of the ice idol mattered to lakhs of pilgrims.

"Whether it is the small or big is immaterial to the lakhs of pilgrims visiting the cave shrine from across the country. In fact, those raking up such issues are insulting the sentiments of the devotees thronging the shrine braving the threats and attacks of terrorists," Sena's Northern India Chief Jai Bhagwan Goyal said in a statement.

"The size of the lingam could have been affected due to the recent earthquake and global warming. Certainly, any tampering needs to be inquired into but those talking about the artificial lingam are hurting the religious sentiments of crores of Hindus," the Sena leader said.

Board Chief Executive Arun Kumar had admitted that the lingam, though natural, has been tampered with while religious leaders including Mahant Deependra Giri, Custodian of the 'Chhari Mubarak' (Holy Mace), has demanded a judicial probe into it.

 The BJP and VHP too had demanded that the truth should be made public.