Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Governor has ordered an inquiry into the alleged fake Shivalingam at the Amarnath cave this year.
The probe is based on a preliminary inquiry report submitted by the Amarnath Shrine Board. It will be headed by a retired High Court Judge.
Earlier this month, Amarnath became the centre of a controversy after devotees alleged the Shivalingam was man-made.
The idols of Shiva, Karthik and Parvati are all in place at the caves, but the space where the lingam used to rest is completely empty.
Earlier, a rift between local caretakers and Amarnath Shrine Board also threatened to spoil the party for the pilgrims.
"The problem is that the caretakers do not get a share of the yatra revenues. This has created a conflict," Shaivism Historian, T N Ganjoo said.
The ruling coalition's People's Democratic Party (PDP) supported his claim.
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti had said that the locals don't have a role to play in the yatra and they now have to pay to the shrine board and get a receipt from them to visit the shrine.
But the state governor, who heads the board, had dismissed the allegations. He said that the Amarnath Shrine Board has never forced anyone to pay for the yatra.
"I have seen a press report saying that the board is charging money from the poor. This is totally false," said Jammu and Kashmir Governor, S K Sinha.
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