Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Nov 30: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chief and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has urged Lt Governor Manoj Sinha to reconsider the proposed construction of a ropeway to the Vaishno Devi shrine, asserting that religious places should not be turned into tourism hotspots.
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Speaking to reporters in Katra after meeting with anti-ropeway protesters, Mehbooba emphasized that the project would severely impact the livelihoods of local shopkeepers, labourers, and others dependent on the pilgrimage. She also demanded the withdrawal of FIRs against protesters involved in recent clashes in Katra with law enforcement agencies.
“The Vaishno Devi shrine is a place of reverence where devotees come with a pure heart to seek blessings. The construction of a ropeway will bypass key pilgrimage points and rob thousands of locals of their livelihood,” Mehbooba said.
Highlighting the economic struggles in Jammu and Kashmir, she claimed that the region faces the highest unemployment rate in the country, with Government jobs scarce and private investment lacking. “Privatization requires electricity, and despite J&K being a major electricity producer, the region benefits the least from it,” she added.
The PDP leader also expressed solidarity with the Baridar community, which historically managed the shrine’s affairs before the formation of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. “The Baridar community has been protesting their ouster, and their concerns must be addressed,” she stated.
Mehbooba urged the administration to prioritize local livelihoods over tourism-focused projects, suggesting that the ropeway could be relocated to a different site.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Congress president Tariq Hameed Karra also visited Katra to meet protesters and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti president Bhupinder Singh Jamwal. The protesters submitted a memorandum to Karra, raising concerns about the project’s impact on the local economy and pilgrimage traditions.
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