Katra shutdown against ropeway project extended

The Shri Vaishno Devi Sangarsh Samiti has extended the shutdown in Katra against the proposed ropeway till January 1, as it tries to pressurise the Lt Governor Manoj Sinha led administration to scrap the project, which they believe will severely impact their businesses.

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Monday was the sixth day of Katra bandh by shopkeepers, as well as owners of palanquins and ponies, who are protesting for the past six days. The protesters are also demanding release of several individuals detained by police during the protests.

Shivani Jamwal, wife of detained Samiti leader Bhupinder Singh, joined the protestors and threatened to commit self-immolation if her husband and others were not released immediately. She claimed that the financial condition of the family was deteriorating after Singh’s detention.

All shops, restaurants and business establishments remained closed and traffic was off the roads. The bandh has crippled normal life in one of the busiest towns in the country, as thousands of pilgrims arrive daily to pay obeisance at the cave shrine.

Thousands of pilgrims visit Vaishno Devi shrine on December 31 for which the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has made special preparations. However, the bandh call is likely to impact the number of the pilgrims visiting the shrine.

A spokesperson of the Samiti said that the bandh will continue till January 1 after which a call will be taken on its extension.

The proposed Rs 250-crore ropeway project will connect Tarakote Marg to Sanji Chhat, leading to the cave shrine. Locals believe that the ropeway will bypass their business establishments, resulting in losses. The Shrine Board has however stated that the ropeway was important for the pilgrims who cannot undertake the steep ascend to reach Mata Vaishno Devi shrine from Katra.

Meanwhile, political parties have severely criticised L-G Manoj Sinha, who is the chairman of the Shrine Board, and asked him to scrap the project. Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Sunday visited Katra and asked all political parties to join the protests. BJP MLA from the area, Baldev Raj Sharma, has already offered his support to the protesters.