Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 18: Deploring the police atrocities inflicted on the protesting labourers on the behest of the district administration at Katra which included Poniwalas, Palkiwalas and Pithus, NPP activists staged a protest demonstration which was spearheaded by Balwant Singh Mankotia president NPP and other leaders along with large number Katra labourers, outside Raj Bhawan here today.
They were shouting slogans against the State Government and Shrine Board authorities. Mr Mankotia while addressing the gathering said it is unfortunate that the district administration imposed section 144 to suppress the voice of the innocent labourers. He said that forcible lifting of five labourers of `Katra Sangarsh Simiti’ who were observing fast unto death and execution of police lathi- charge on the innocent protesting labourers had only exposed the draconian face of the State Government which was persistently resorting to policy of oppression to quell the voice of the people.
Mr Mankotia pointed out that during 2010 when the new track from Banganga to Adhkuwari was under construction, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) authorities ensured the general public including Ponywalas, Pithus and Palkiwalas that the track would only be used for logistic purpose exclusively and would not be used for the holy Yatra. He said that since the Board had decided to resume the battery car services on the new track, the source of bread and butter of Ponywalas, Palkiwals and Pithus was facing a grave threat. He added that if the new track was resumed for yatra services, it would render more than 50,000 people jobless.
While showing solidarity with the aggrieved labourers, he disclosed that the NPP shall continue indefinite dharna at the same venue along with the labourers of Katra unless their genuine demands were conceded by the Board authorities.
Others present in the protest demonstration included Jagdev Singh, Rajesh Pargotra, Khajur Singh, Naresh Singh, Gagan Pratap Singh, Neeraj Gupta, Shanker Chib, Inderpal Singh, Sham Singh, Rajesh Gondhi, Sunil Paroch etc.
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