Srinagar- As chorus for allowing traditional Muharram processions in Srinagar continues to grow louder, the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha is holding a crucial meet with the leaders of Shia community on Monday to discuss the possibility of allowing 8th Muharram procession from Guru Bazar to Dalgate after a gap of over 3 decades.
According to reports, LG Sinha will preside over the meeting with Shia leaders at the Civil Secretariat here on Monday in which a final call on whether to allow traditional Muharram processions in Srinagar will be taken. Top officials from the administration and police will attend the meeting, sources told Kashmir Observer.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri has reportedly asked the concerned officials including the Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) Chief Dilbagh Singh to attend the meeting.
Various Shia religious groups, including Shia Association, Anjuman Sharie Shiayan led by Agha Syed Hassan and Anjuman Sharie Shiayan led by Agha Syed Hadi and Community Development & Employment Foundation Hawal Srinagar have been invited to attend the meeting.
Monday’s meeting comes in the backdrop of the first round of talks held between the Shia leaders and the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir on Friday.
Sources said the Mondays meeting has been specifically convened to take a final call on the 8th Muharram procession.
Confirming the meeting Agha Syed Hadi, a prominent Shia leader, told Kashmir Observer that they are hopeful that the administration will allow 8th Muharram procession this year given that there is considerable improvement in the overall situation in the Kashmir valley.
He said the meeting with the Div Com Kashmir remained inconclusive a day earlier and that the final call in this direction will be taken by LG Sinha in the meeting scheduled on July 24.
The two major processions of 8th and 10th Muharram were banned in 1989 by the then Governor administration fearing the processions may turn into pro-azadi demonstrations. Ever since, only small mourning processions are allowed in in Shia dominated areas in the interiors of Srinagar city.
Muharram marks the anniversary of the brutal massacre of the family of the noble Prophet of Islam in the deserts of Karbala some 1400 years ago and every year Shia Muslims the world over commemorate the tragic event by taking out processions and holding majalis especially in the first 10 days of the month.
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