On the fifth day of the shutdown in Jammu and Kashmir’s Katra as locals protest against the proposed Rs 300-crore ropeway project to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, J&K Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary on Sunday evening called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to “listen to the protesters”.
Addressing the protesters in Katra town, Choudhary said, “L-G sahab, you will have to listen to these people as the Shrine Board is under you. A poet has said, ‘Na sataa gareeb ko, ki gareeb ro dega. Pata chalega uske malik ko to, tujhey kabar se bhi khod ke nikalega (Don’t harass the poor as they will cry. If their God comes to know, you will be pulled out even from yout grave)’.”
He said he came to meet the protesters upon the directions of his leaders, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah and J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and that he would give a report of the situation to them.
“Those elected and those not elected, and also those of us – ministers and the Deputy Chief Minister – we all can face these challenges in a united manner, not separately,” said Surinder Choudhary.
He said the issue was not a political one, but about the people of Katra and how their coming generations will make ends meet.
The protests in Katra have seen several locals, including shopkeepers, owners of eateries and operators of ponies and palkis, come out against the proposed Katra-Sanjichhat ropeway that is meant to bypass the old Katra-Banga-Adi Kunwari route of the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage. Protesters argue that the ropeway could have a major impact on their sources of livelihood.
Referring to the large number of women gathered on Sunday, Choudhary said, “Imagine the trauma of a mother when her children are unemployed. These political parties are for men, but my mothers and sisters are concerned whether their child is getting a job.”
He also appealed to people not to take the law into their own hands, reminding them that this is the land of Mahatma Gandhi, who won us Independence through non-violence.
Former BJPThe bandh that was called on Wednesday has led to the closure of most shops and eateries in Katra, where black flags can be seen at regular intervals and local private vehicles have stayed off the roads minister Ajay Nanda and Jugal Sharma, also a former minister and a close confidant of DPAP chairman Ghulam Nabi Azad, were among many prominent figures present on the occasion.
BJP MLA Baldev Sharma also extended support to the agitation against the ropeway project, and assured all support from his party in the matter.
The protesters, apart from asking the Shrine Board to shelve its proposed ropeway project, is also demanding the release of some of their leaders who were detained by police last week.
The bandh that was called on Wednesday has led to the closure of most shops and eateries in Katra, where black flags can be seen at regular intervals and local private vehicles have stayed off the roads.
