PM’s 3rd visit to Katra today, says looking forward to being in J&K

Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will tomorrow dedicate Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Super Specialty Hospital, Kakryal and Sports Complex, Katra to the nation during his third visit to Katra in the past three years amid tight security arrangements even as Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has declared that pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine between Trikuta Hills will continue uninterrupted even during the visit of the Prime Minister. However, helicopter service for the pilgrims will remain suspended till the Prime Minister flies back from Katra to Jammu on way to New Delhi in the afternoon.
In a tweet tonight, Modi said: “I am looking forward to being in Jammu and Kashmir tomorrow, where I will attend a wide range of programmes and inter-act with citizens”.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Prime Minister will reach Technical Airport in Jammu at around 9 am tomorrow, where he will be received among others by Governor NN Vohra, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh.
All of them will fly to Katra where the Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Super Specialty Hospital at Kakryal and Sports Complex, Katra. Later, he will address convocation of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University and give degrees to some of the students.
He will also distribute ‘Free Medical Treatment Cards’ for treatment at the Super Specialty Hospital among the local people of some villages in and around Kakryal. He will address the public within the Mata Vaishno Devi University Ground before returning to Jammu Technical Airport and flying back to New Delhi in the afternoon.
Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dr Jitendra Singh will receive the Prime Minister at Katra, the base camp of Mata Vaishno Devi ji shrine, which falls under Udhampur-Doda Lok Sabha seat, held by Dr Singh.
Sources said the Special Protection Group (SPG) and Jammu and Kashmir Police have sanitized all locations of the visit of the Prime Minister and made elaborate security arrangements at venues of inauguration of hospital and Sports Complex, University convocation and public address.
However, according to sources, despite tight security arrangements, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has decided that yatra to holy cave shrine of Goddess Vaishno Devi will go on uninterrupted even during the visit of the Prime Minister to Kakryal, near Katra town, which serves as base camp for Mata Vaishno Devi ji shrine.
“There will be no interruption in the pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine to and fro. It will go on smoothly though tight security arrangements would remain in place in entire Katra town and outskirts during the visit of the Prime Minister and other dignitaries,” sources said. It may be mentioned here that pilgrimage to holy cave shrine has started witnessing rush after the end of exam season.
However, sources said, the helicopter services to and from Sanjichat-Katra will remain suspended right from the morning till the Prime Minister leaves Katra town. However, the helicopter services will resume in the afternoon.
“The suspension of helicopter services from Sanjichat to Katra and back is part of the security measure,” they added.
This is the third visit of Narendra Modi to Katra.
He had visited Katra for darshan of Mata Vaishno Devi ji’s shrine on March 26, 2014 as BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate and started his election campaign from Hiranagar by addressing rally in favour of party candidate Dr Jitendra Singh after taking blessings of Goddess Vaishno Devi.
He again visited Katra on July 4, 2014 i.e. within one and half month after taking over as the Prime Minister on May 26, to launch Katra-Udhampur railway track. However, this time, he didn’t visit the holy cave shrine.
Tomorrow will be his third visit, which too will be confined to Katra as he is not visiting the cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi ji.

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