Srinagar, Sep 19: A proposed four-day meditation retreat in Jammu and Kashmir’s Gurez Valley has triggered a political and religious controversy, with former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq urging the authorities to intervene.
The programme, titled “Tantra in Silence – A Journey Within,” is scheduled from September 24 to 27 in Gurez.
Promotional material identifies Swami Dhyan Sumit as the facilitator and advertises accommodation, food and meditation sessions at a fee of ₹11,995 per participant.
Mehbooba called on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and the Jammu and Kashmir Police to examine the proposed programme, while also appealing to Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mufti Nasir-ul-Islam to raise awareness about the issue.
“Gurez is no playground for experiments in the name of spirituality or tourism. I request @CM_JnK and @JmuKmrpolice to intervene immediately and take appropriate action,” Mehbooba said.
“I also appeal to @MirwaizKashmir and @office_mufti to raise awareness about this issue,” she added.
Mirwaiz subsequently backed the concerns raised by Mehbooba and called for immediate action by the authorities.
“The concern raised by @MehboobaMufti deserves immediate attention!” he said.
He referred to a similar programme in Goa, saying it “was cancelled by police in Goa, due to public outrage over its obscene promotional details.”
“That this kind of program is being allowed in Gurez in Kashmir, when a similar programme by this organisation was cancelled by police in Goa, due to public outrage over its obscene promotional details, is outrageous!” Mirwaiz said.
Invoking Kashmir’s religious heritage, he said, “Kashmir is the land of sufis and saints. Here spirituality is experienced, not marketed at a cost!”
“Besides, tourism promotion cannot become an excuse to undermine our religious, cultural and social ethos and ignoring our values and sensibilities,” he said.
Mirwaiz also urged the administration to take action against what he described as exploitation, saying, “The concerned authorities @CM_JnK, @omarabdullah should immediately take note and stop this exploitation!”
