Vaishno Devi fee may be reassessed

By Our Special Correspondent

Srinagar

June 4: Faced with criticism for its decision to introduce "paid darshan" at Vaishno Devi, the custodians of the cave-shrine in Trikuta hills have said they are open to reassess the arrangement.

According to the move initiated by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board last week, a devotee wanting morning darshan had to pay Rs 1,000 for it. For darshan from the bathing gate, the charge will be Rs 500 per person and Rs 200 from gate No. 5. Children were exempted from being charged.

But the paid darshan move evoked sharp criticism from within the Hindu community in Jammu and Kashmir and outside it, while Jammu and some other areas witnessed angry people taking to the streets to lodge their protest over it. Amidst the outcry, the board headed by Jammu and Kashmir governor Lt. Gen. S.K. Sinha (Retd) said on Wednesday that it was examining representations from various socio-religious organisations and other groups on the new priority darshan scheme.