Asserting that spiritual locations shouldn’t be transformed into tourism hotspots, PDP supremo Mehbooba Mufti on Saturday requested Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha to rethink establishing a ropeway on the trek resulting in the Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district.
The previous chief minister additionally demanded instant withdrawal of an FIR towards anti-ropeway protesters over the latest violence in Katra city, the bottom camp for pilgrims visiting the revered shrine atop Trikuta hills.
“The livelihood of shopkeepers, labourers and others are linked to the pilgrimage and they’re sure to face loads of issues (after development of the ropeway). The federal government ought to suppose that it’s a spiritual place and be handled like one as a substitute of changing it right into a tourism spot,” Mehbooba informed reporters after assembly the protesters in Katra.
The Folks’s Democratic Get together (PDP) supremo mentioned there have been a number of locations with tourism potential in Jammu and Kashmir.
“This can be a place of reverence the place a devotee comes with a pure coronary heart to hunt blessings of the Mata. Building of the ropeway won’t solely bypass three essential areas enroute to the shrine but additionally snatch the livelihood of hundreds of locals,” Mehbooba mentioned.
Jammu and Kashmir is already grappling with the nation’s highest unemployment fee as authorities jobs are nowhere and personal funding isn’t coming, she claimed.
“Privatisation requires electrical energy. Although Jammu and Kashmir produces electrical energy, it’s given freed from price to some states and we’ve nothing for ourselves. Individuals who earn their livelihood by way of labour work with the blessings of the Mata will lose the chance after the ropeway’s development,” she mentioned.
Mehbooba mentioned the Baridar group, which managed the shrine’s affairs earlier than formation of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, weren’t proud of their ouster and have been repeatedly protesting.
“The lieutenant governor (shrine board chairperson) ought to rethink the choice and take the livelihood of the locals into consideration earlier than beginning work on the ropeway, which might be shifted elsewhere,” she mentioned.
The PDP chief additionally demanded the withdrawal of an FIR registered towards the anti-ropeway protesters final week following a conflict between them and legislation imposing companies.
“The lieutenant governor has been there for the final 5 years and he ought to inform what number of jobs have been created and given to kids… Once you snatch livelihood alternatives from folks, protests are sure to occur. We live in a democracy and it’s the proper of the folks to protest,” he mentioned.
In the meantime, the Congress’ Jammu and Kashmir president Tariq Hameed Karra visited Katra and met Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti president and social gathering chief Bhupinder Singh Jamwal.
The protesters submitted a memorandum to Karra, voicing concern over the venture.
