The shutdown in Katra in opposition to the proposed Vaishno Devi ropeway undertaking entered its third day on Friday, with extra individuals sitting on the starvation strike to demand the discharge of these detained throughout earlier demonstrations.
The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti referred to as for a 72-hour shutdown, which started on Wednesday. It introduced that each one actions in Jammu and Kashmir’s Katra would stay suspended throughout the bandh.
Ladies and kids have now joined the six protesters who started a starvation strike on Wednesday evening, demanding the discharge of 18 Samiti members detained throughout a protest march in opposition to the undertaking earlier that day.
Final month, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board determined to maneuver ahead with a Rs 250-crore passenger ropeway undertaking between Tarakote Marg to Sanji Chhat alongside the 12-kilometre monitor to the shrine after shelving the undertaking prior to now as a result of related protests.
The undertaking will facilitate entry to the temple for senior residents, kids and others who discover it tough to climb the monitor to the cave shrine, it had stated.
The Samiti, which represents shopkeepers, pony operators and palanquin house owners, argues that the ropeway would destroy the livelihoods of native enterprise house owners and has demanded that the undertaking be scrapped.
With black flags displayed throughout the city, outlets, eating places, and different enterprise institutions remained closed for the third day, and vehicular motion was at a standstill, following the Samiti’s name for protest.
The bandh has disrupted regular life in one in every of India’s busiest pilgrimage hubs, which is visited day by day by hundreds of devotees searching for blessings on the cave shrine.
“The bandh is a part of our 72-hour-long shutdown in opposition to the ropeway undertaking. It is occurring peacefully. The committee will determine on the following plan of action quickly,” stated a spokesperson for the Samiti.
Criticising the administration for its lack of engagement, the spokesperson stated, “The administration is detached to the plight of individuals, together with girls and kids, holding peaceable protests. Our easy demand is to shelve the undertaking, because it threatens the livelihood of Katra residents, most of whom depend on the pilgrimage financial system.”
He additional claimed that as a substitute of initiating dialogue, the administration resorted to power, together with the detention of Samiti leaders throughout a peaceable protest. “They’re creating an pointless disaster with their method,” he acknowledged.
Shiva, a participant within the starvation strike, needed to be hospitalised after his situation deteriorated.
“Our starvation strike will proceed till the detained people are launched. If somebody falls in poor health, one other particular person will exchange them,” stated one other participant within the starvation strike.
Eighteen protesters, together with Samiti leaders Bhupinder Singh and Sohan Chand, have been detained by police throughout Wednesday’s march and brought away from the protest website.
The proposed Rs 250-crore ropeway undertaking will join Tarakote Marg to Sanji Chhat, resulting in the cave shrine in Reasi district.
In Jammu, the Shiv Sena Dogra Entrance (DFSS) prolonged its assist to the pilgrims, who’re going through hardships as a result of bandh, and urged that the problem be resolved amicably.
“We stand with the pilgrims and assist higher amenities. If wanted, create two ropeways as a substitute of 1. Present extra facilities for accommodating pilgrims throughout the yatra,” stated DFSS President Ashok Gupta.
Gupta added that the pilgrimage had considerably boosted Katra’s financial system, and the bandh was inflicting inconvenience to devotees. “Yatra, enterprise, ponywalas are all depending on pilgrims. They shouldn’t be put to inconvenience,” he stated.
“For the previous three days, pilgrims have confronted immense difficulties. If the authorities fail to handle this, we are going to use our automobiles to ferry pilgrims to the temple and supply them with meals,” he stated.
Nonetheless, many pilgrims expressed dissatisfaction over the closure of eateries and the unavailability of native transport, which brought about vital inconvenience throughout their journey to the cave shrine.
To minimize the affect of the bandh, the Shrine Board has organized boarding and lodging for pilgrims arriving within the city.
Particular langars on the Katra railway station, Banganga and Tarakote are offering tea and milk to make sure the yatra continues easily on each tracks.
