Srinagar: Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir, said on Monday that the government has been monitoring the situation and that a final call vis-à-vis 10th Muharram procession in Srinagar would be taken at the appropriate time.
Lauding the Shia community for their cooperation to make the eighth Muharram procession in Srinagar go off without a hitch, the Div Com said the government could not decide on the event had the peace not properly established in Kashmir.
Elaborate arrangements, according to the Div Com, were put in place by the administration on the 8th Muharram in Srinagar, in accordance with the directions of the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to provide every single facility to the mourners on the occasion.
“Since the peace is evident on the ground in Kashmir, the fact that the 8th Muharram procession in Srinagar culminated peacefully is something we are happy about and all this happened due to support of the people,” the Div Com told the media.
The government is currently monitoring the situation and would make a final decision at the appropriate time, the Div Com said in response to a question on whether the administration will allow the 10th Muharram (Ashura) procession in Srinagar.
“The people’s convenience is the basis for government decision-making, and this includes consideration for the people’s convenience when making decisions regarding time extensions,” Bidhuri said, replying to another question on whether the administration extends the timing of the procession.
Vidhi Kumar Birdi, Inspector General of Police (IGP) for the Kashmir zone, said that in-depth security arrangements were put in place along the route to ensure that the 8th Muharram procession’s order is maintained.
An advice, he said, was already issued on the procession’s timing in accordance with the route so that there would be no disturbance to the public.
Responding to a question on whether the 10th Muharram procession would also be allowed in Srinagar, the IGP Kashmir also said the district administration would take final decision on it.
“It is not the right time to comment on the matter because the decision regarding this matter will be made at the appropriate time,” he added.
