*Hopeful of solution soon: SDM Katra
Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Dec 30: The ongoing protest against the proposed Rs 250-crore ropeway project in Katra town has been extended for two more days as the Sangharsh Samiti leaders did not receive any written assurance from the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board or the Reasi administration to shelve the project.
The protest, called on December 25, was initially extended for 72 hours on Friday night.
“I, along with some other leaders of the Sangharsh Samiti, was approached by the district administration today to meet the jailed leaders, including Bhupinder Singh and Sohan Chand, to find a way out,” said Bali Ram Rana, the chairman of the Sangharsh Samiti, the organization spearheading the agitation.
“So, we met them in Reasi and Udhampur jails, where we discussed with the administration our key demand, one of which is to shelve the ropeway project. However, the administration did not provide any assurance to shelve the project,” he said.
As a result, Rana said the Sangharsh Samiti had no option but to extend the shutdown further for two more days.
“If our demands are not met, this could become the longest agitation in the history,” Rana warned.
SDM Katra Piyush Dhotra, however, expressed optimism that the ongoing impasse would end soon.
He said, “Efforts are being made at different levels to engage with the protestors, and we’re hopeful that a solution will be found soon.”
Dhotra added that besides engaging the protestors in meaningful dialogue, all necessary facilities were being provided to them, particularly at the Fountain (Phawara) Chowk, where the condition of some of the youth sitting on an indefinite hunger strike deteriorated over the last few days.
Meanwhile, Shivani Jamwal, wife of jailed Samiti leader Bhupinder Singh, today threatened to “self-immolate” if her husband and other Samiti leaders were not released from jail soon.
According to her, most of them have lost considerable weight in jails.
“I’ll commit self-immolation if my husband and the others are not released by this evening,” she said.
Jamwal urged LG Manoj Sinha to intervene and stated that some detainees have severe health conditions, making it imperative for the Government to release them immediately.
While protests at Shridhar Chowk continued, with health of one of the five youths sitting on hunger strike deteriorating, after which he was taken to the CHC Katra several leaders addressed gatherings at Shalimar Park, the venue allotted by the administration for the protestors.
Some people taking out a procession from Shalimar Chowk were also warned for moving without permission from the authorities.
In Jammu, Shiv Sena (UBT), under the leadership of Manish Sahni, held a press conference and expressed concern over the inconveniences being faced by pilgrims in Katra due to the ongoing tussle and strike regarding the ropeway project.
Sahni said that the ropeway facility on the Tarkote route would destroy the mythological importance of the yatra, as pilgrims would no longer be able to visit all the padavs (important sacred points) on the yatra route.
He requested the Shrine Board and LG Manoj Sinha to intervene and end the ongoing tussle by finding a solution.
Sahni also claimed that he had sought a meeting with LG Sinha soon to discuss the importance of the yatra.
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