Development threatening livelihoods unacceptable: DyCM
Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Dec 29: The anti-ropeway protests in Katra entered their fifth day today, with the deadlock between the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, the Reasi administration, and the Sangharsh Samiti members continuing.
Led by Beli Ram Rana, the Sangharsh Samiti has been demanding that the proposed Rs 250-crore ropeway project, which aims to connect the Katra base camp with Sanjhi Chhat near the shrine, be cancelled. They are also calling for the unconditional release of 18 youth detained during protests earlier this week.
The agitation, which began on December 25, was extended by another 72 hours on Friday night to press the Shrine Board and the Government in favour of their demands. But as per the Sangharsh Samiti members, no representative from the administration has approached them to initiate meaningful dialogue. Click here to watch video
Meanwhile, several political leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, accompanied by senior NC members, former BJP leaders, and Congress representatives, visited the Tarkote Marg area, where the ropeway project is set to be installed. Later, they addressed the gathering of protesters at Baba Shridhar Chowk and Shalimar Park.
In solidarity with the protestors, the local market also remained shut, though some hotels and restaurants remained open. This upset the youth on hunger strike at Shridhar Chowk, who demanded that the hotel owners close their establishments.
In response, Rakesh Wazir, President of the Hotels and Restaurants Association, assured that after December 31, no new bookings would be taken, and all hotels and restaurants would close to support the Sangharsh Samiti.
Some posters also cropped up in Katra, calling Member of Parliament (MP) Jugal Kishore Sharma “missing,” as protesters expressed their frustration over the absence of their elected representative.
During his address at Shridhar Chowk and Shalimar Park, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary emphasized that development should not threaten the livelihoods of locals.
He stated, “While development must be appreciated, it shouldn’t harm any individual’s livelihood.”
Choudhary argued that Jammu has suffered due to developmental projects, which lacked proper rehabilitation for affected people, and warned that the ropeway project could similarly jeopardize the livelihoods of thousands reliant on the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage.
He also reassured the people of Katra that the NC leadership, including Dr Farooq Abdullah and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, would support them, and he promised to raise the issue with the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, to find a resolution.
Choudhary further called for the release of the detained youth.
Local MLA Baldev Raj Sharma supported the demand for the youth’s release but acknowledged that some political leaders had indicated that the detainees are not interested in releasing unless the ropeway project was cancelled.
Despite this, Sharma expressed his continued support for the Sangharsh Samiti.
Former MoS and senior BJP leader Ajay Nanda criticized the administration for underestimating the resolve of the people of Jammu.
He stated, “The administration thought that bringing in a new Deputy Commissioner from outside would end this agitation, but they were wrong. When the Dogras unite, they achieve the impossible.”
Former Congress leader Jugal Kishore Sharma, who contested the Assembly polls from the Katra segment as an independent candidate, joined the protests, demanding that the ropeway project be shelved and the detainees released.
Former Minister and senior Congress leader Yogesh Sawhney, along with J&K Congress Sewa Dal Chief Vijay Sharma, also participated in the protests and expressed support for the demonstrators.
Pawan Khajuria, a former BJP leader who contested the Udhampur East Assembly segment as an independent candidate, along with Parikshit Singh, DDC Jaganoo, addressed the protesters at Shridhar Chowk and Shalimar Chowk, where five youth are on an indefinite hunger strike.
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