Will submit report to CM for further action: DyCM Choudhary
JAMMU, Dec 29: Katra, the base camp for the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage in Jammu and Kashmir, remained shut for the fifth consecutive day on Sunday in protest against a proposed ropeway project in the Trikuta hills, with BJP MLA Baldev Raj Sharma threatening to sit on a hunger strike if those detained are not released within 24 hours.
Meanwhile, five men continue to sit on a hunger strike, demanding the release of those detained by police during earlier demonstrations in the holy town.
The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti, which has called for the shutdown, announced that all activities in Katra would remain suspended during the bandh.
Shops, restaurants and business establishments remained closed for the fifth day in Katra, and traffic was off the roads following the samiti’s call for the protest.
The Bandh, which began on Wednesday, has disrupted normal life in the busy town of Katra, where thousands of pilgrims arrive daily to pay obeisance at the cave shrine of Vaishno Devi.
Sharma, who joined the protesters on Sunday, warned the administration of a chain hunger strike if the detained samiti members are not released within 24 hours. “I will sit on a hunger strike with my people if the administration does not release those detained. The administration should immediately release them,” the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA told the protesters.
He added that the BJP has raised the issue with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other leaders in Delhi. “Our representatives went to Delhi and the Home Minister has taken cognisance of the issue. The leadership has been asked to find a solution. That is why I am here with you,” he said.
Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Kumar Choudhary also visited Katra on Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s direction to assess and address the issues and concerns of local residents on the ropeway project. He assured that people’s demands will be addressed and no decision will be imposed on them.
Referring to the three key issues — the ropeway project, the detention of youths and the expressway — he told reporters, “We have had interactions with all stakeholders in this regard and have listened to everyone.”
“I have prepared a detailed report on the situation, which I will submit to the chief minister. The Shrine Board will take a call on the issue,” Choudhary added.
Choudhary asserted that resolving the issue is the Shrine Board’s responsibility. “I will also meet the Lieutenant Governor, who is the Chairman of the Board, to ensure his intervention in resolving the matter,” he said.
Choudhary said the Chief Minister would issue a statement on the issue. He emphasized that all political parties were united in this fight for Katra. “We hope that those who believe this struggle is driven by trade interests will see reason. Justice must prevail as the demands are genuine,” he said.
The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti initially called for the shutdown on December 25. On Friday night, it extended the bandh by 72 hours to press its demands, including shelving the proposed ropeway project and releasing the detained protesters.
Five men are sitting on a hunger strike, demanding the release of the 18 Samiti members detained during a protest march against the proposed ropeway project. Several protesters, including two samiti leaders — Bhupinder Singh and Sohan Chand — were detained by police during Wednesday’s protest and taken away in a police vehicle.
