Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Aug 30: Baridars Sangarsh Committee Katra and Baridar Sewa Committee today observed black day on 38 years of their ‘exile’ and constitution of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.
Click here to watch video
A large number of Baridars assembled at main chowk Katra town and staged massive protest against Government and the Shrine Board authorities. The Baridar community took out a protest rally in Katra town and later submitted a memorandum to SDM Katra.
“We are observing black day today against the formation of the Shrine Board. It was on this day that the then Jammu and Kashmir Governor Jagmohan forced us out and took control of the shrine,” Sher Singh president of BSC said.
Addressing the protesters, he said, that from the last 38 years, Government and Shrine Board were befooling the people, who are actual Sewadars of Mata Vaishno Devi. There are over 30,000 souls of Baridars who were thrown out in 1986. They snached their worship rights forcefully.
“The Board took over the shrine without compensating the genuine Sewadars,” he added. Alleging corruption and nepotism in the Shrine Board, he lamented that members of the Board are treated as VIP at Bhawan while the Baridars are not even allowed to perform worship of the deity. We want our worship right back, he added.
Recalling the Prime Minister’s assurance to address the grievances of the erstwhile Baridars, Sham Singh lamented that Prime Minister did not fulfill the promise he had made with the erstwhile Baridars of Mata Vaishno Devi.
“We would also like to remind the Prime Minister to fulfill his election promise and solve Baridars genuine issue,” he added.
Baridars further added that now the Board gives preference to candidates from UP and Bihar in jobs and ignore locals. This time we will use our right to vote wisely so that this type of situation do not arise again.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
