Srinagar, June 18: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today chaired a high-level meeting at the Civil Secretariat to review the arrangements for the upcoming holy month of Muharram.
Emphasising the significance of the occasion, the Chief Minister made it clear that the government’s responsibility does not conclude with Ashura, the 10th day of Muharram, but extends for the full mourning period of two months and eight days.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary, senior cabinet ministers, bureaucrats, police officials, MLAs, and religious representatives from across Jammu and Kashmir. Several district officers participated through video conferencing.
Addressing the officials and stakeholders, the Chief Minister said, “There must be no laxity in arrangements. Our responsibility does not end on the 10th day. It continues through the entire period of mourning. The seriousness of today’s meeting reflects the importance we attach to this sacred time.”
With Muharram overlapping with the ongoing Amarnath Yatra this year, Abdullah underscored the need for additional coordination across departments to ensure both religious events are conducted peacefully and efficiently. He announced that a separate Nodal Officer at the Secretary level would be appointed to oversee the Muharram arrangements across the Union Territory. This move is aimed at relieving the Divisional Commissioner of additional duties and ensuring more focused supervision.
Officials in the meeting discussed various aspects of preparedness, including power and water supply, lighting arrangements at major congregation sites, availability of essential rations and firewood, sanitation drives, and health care facilities. Abdullah stressed the need for uninterrupted electricity, adequate deployment of water tankers, and cleanliness at key religious locations. Fire and Emergency Services, he said, would also be deployed to cleanse major procession routes with high-pressure water jets.
The Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir provided a detailed presentation on the civil and security arrangements being planned, while legislators and religious leaders from Shia-dominated areas shared specific concerns and suggestions from their constituencies.
The Chief Minister directed all departments to work in close coordination, assuring that every issue flagged during the meeting would be addressed without delay. He reiterated that both the Amarnath Yatra and Muharram observances must be facilitated with equal care, dignity, and efficiency.
“Our commitment is not just administrative—it is moral. We owe it to the people of this land to ensure that their religious obligations are carried out without inconvenience or disruption,” Omar Abdullah said, as he concluded the meeting with a call for seamless cooperation and real-time monitoring.
