The National Green Tribunal on Wednesday earned the wrath of Social Media users after reports emerged which claimed that the environment body has banned the chanting of mantras in the Amarnath temple. This temple is home to a natural Shivling and is considered one of the holiest shrines in Hinduism.
The logic given behind this ban seems to be that, a silent zone is being created around the main shrine to prevent avalanche and preserve ecology.
As per the report, apart from banning the mantras the tribunal headed by chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar also issued a slew of other orders like banning the ringing of bells in the temple.
The pilgrims also have to deposit their mobile phones and other belongings before taking Darshan. As a result of this, the shrine body has been asked to build a separate room to store these belongings. The devotees would now also need to walk in a single queue after crossing the last checkpoint.
After giving the orders, the tribunal has also asked the Amarnath shrine board to strictly implement them.
Many social media users as a result considered such orders as a gross interference in the Hindu faith and reacted:
https://twitter.com/rsrikanth05/status/940897934660341761?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/attomeybharti/status/940884995303923712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/rapapumpum/status/940896437633564672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/coolfunnytshirt/status/940881071746502656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/rajudasonline/status/940882598909263872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/GappistanRadio/status/940879988437463040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
A BJP Delhi spokesperson outright challenged the tribunal:
https://twitter.com/TajinderBagga/status/940881493655777280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The national green tribunal in November had also decided to impose restrictions on the Vaishno Devi temple, which included capping the number of devotees to 50,000 per day.