Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Dec 12: On fourth day of their continuous protest, the agitating Ponywalas, Pithus and Palkiwalas today bagan an indefinite hunger strike and announced to completely suspend their services.
The pilgrims visiting Mata Vaishno Devi shrine are going to face problems because of the strike by these labourers, whose number is around 10,000 and have been rendering their services as Ponywalas, Pithus and Palkiwalas.
On the consecutive fourth day of their protest, hundreds of labourers on Saturday assembled at Bus Stand Katra and took out a protest rally, which passed through the main bazaars of Katra town and then culminated at Bus Stand Katra.
Bhupinder Singh, Union leader, who was leading the protest, warned the Shrine Board against running battery operated cars on the newly constructed track from Ban Ganga to Adh Kuwari. “Firstly they ruined the lives of baaridars and now they are playing with the lives of poor labourers,” he alleged and urged Chairman Shrine Board and Governor N N Vohra to intervene in this matter and clear the stand whether the new track shall be used for battery car service or Ponywalas.
As the peaceful protest continued, five union members sat on strike along with union leader Bhupinder Singh. The hunger strike will continue till the issue is resolved.
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