x

Like our Facebook Page

   
Early Times Newspaper Jammu, Leading Newspaper Jammu
 
Breaking News :   Exclusion of regional parties signals growing divide | Amid reservation row, Bakarwals push for ST sub-categorization | Katra: 72-hour shutdown begins against ropeway project | Vajpayee architect of India's transition: PM | LG pays tribute to Vajpayee, Mahamana | CRPF doing commendable job: Shah | Work together to make country self-reliant: LG Sinha | J&K celebrates Christmas with fervour | Govt committed to improve quality spending | NDA leaders meet | Drug peddler arrested | Srinagar records minus 7.3 C | Udhampur joins national event on Sahakar-se-Samradhi | MVD organises health checkup, awareness camp at Poonch | Shub International School hosts Annual Delight celebration NAMISHA | CM Omar Abdullah conducts surprise checks at Kashmir's premier Medical Institutions | ADGP Jammu extends Christmas greetings to the people and police personnel | Modi lays foundation stone of Ken-Betwa river linking project; hails Ambedkar's vision | Dy CM participates in 81st Salana Barsi of Sant Baba Sunder Singh Ji | SSP Jammu held meeting at Gujjar Basti, Khairi, Bishnah | Dense fog in parts of Delhi, minimum temperature 8.4 deg C | Atal Bihari Vajpayee leadership laid foundation for BJP's global growth: Kavinder | Sadhotra participates in Christmas celebrations, calls for spreading positivity for harmonious growth of society | Mahila Yog Shakti Diwas celebrations | Rotary Club organizes winter clothing donation drive at railway station | "We may have different religions, languages but we all belong to human race": Bhagwat | Police arrest five drug peddlers with contraband substances in Kashmir | Doda receives fresh snowfall, attracts tourists from across India | Christmas celebrated with religious fervour | Mehbooba calls for Vajpayee-like leadership to address J&K challenges | Nine mysterious deaths in Rajouri: Sukesh C Khajuria calls for health reforms | Reservation policies in J&K unfairly disadvantage merit-based students, says Taruun Uppal | BLSKS celebrates National Consumer Rights Day | Sham Lal Gupta meets officials to express gratitude | Organic farming training conducted at CONF Chatha under HADP project | Dr Ajay Sharma re-elected as state president Sannak State Secretary for ABVP | Retired CAPF personnel discuss welfare issues at Akhnoor meeting | Dogra Brahman Pritinidhi Sabha pays tribute to Pt Madan Mohan Malaviya | BJP Marks Atal Bihari Vajpayee's 100th Birth Anniversary with 'Good Governance Day' | Interaction session organized by faculty of Life Sciences JU | Gazala Noor conferred PhD Degree by University of Jammu | JU Law School hosts expert lecture on Consumer Rights Day | MLA Pawan Kumar Gupta attends Fitness Festival as chief guest at Mini Stadium Ground | Selection Trials for 19th Cadet National Fencing Championship | JU hosts Dental Camp, Christmas celebrations for students of Surbhi Nursery School | Spring Dales Kathua Shines at Aerofest 2024 by NAL Bangalore | Senior Citizen Awareness Programme held | Scientia International School celebrates Christmas eve with a grand fun and fair | Yashodhan of Spring Dales Kathua honored by Lieutenant Governor as top 10 finalist in Toycathon 2024 | Symposium on Corruption in India: A Menace to Good Governance held at GCW Udhampur | Back Issues  
 
news details
Katra: 72-hour shutdown begins against ropeway project
12/25/2024 10:48:43 PM
Early Times Report

REASI/JAMMU, Dec 25: Several people were detained by police during a protest in Katra, the base camp of the Mata Vaishno Devi temple in Jammu and Kashmir, as demands to shelve the proposed ropeway project intensified with the town observing a 72-hour shutdown from Wednesday Jammu local businesses
The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangarsh Samiti called for the bandh and said that all activities in Katra would remain suspended during the protest.
Scores of people led by Samiti leaders Bhupinder Singh and Sohan Chand took out a protest march in the town, raising slogans against the Shrine Board and the administration, accusing them of adopting a stubborn attitude.
However, when police personnel stopped the protesters from advancing, clashes broke out between the two sides.
Several protesters, including Singh and Chand, were detained by the police and taken away in a police vehicle from the protest site, officials said.
Singh alleged that the government was derailing the issue and forcing the people of Katra to come on the roads.
“We are demanding the shelving of this project to save the jobs of thousands of people. Instead of holding talks with us, as promised by the administration, they are using police to detain us. This is unfortunate”, he said.
Former minister Jugal Kishore criticised the “use of force” against the protesters.
“We strongly condemn the administration’s move to use force against peaceful demonstrators. Their actions are aimed at disturbing the situation in Katra, which is unacceptable,” Kis
"We are facing a lot of difficulties. Where will pilgrims eat or rest during this three-day bandh? This is not the right way to protest.We humbly request those leading the protests to call off the strike, as thousands of pilgrims are facing hardships,”
ore told reporters.
He accused the administration of avoiding dialogue. “Instead of holding discussions, they are aggravating the situation,” he said.
In response to the protest call, all business establishments remained closed, and traffic was off the roads in the holy town.
“A 72-hour shutdown by pony owners, shopkeepers, and other local stakeholders began on Wednesday to protest the proposed ropeway project,” a Samiti spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added that the administration had initially scheduled a meeting for December 23 but postponed it to 3 PM today.
“We met the Deputy Commissioner today, who requested more time to consult higher authorities. Therefore, we have decided to continue with the strike,” he said.
Last month, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board announced plans to install the ropeway to facilitate access to the temple for senior citizens, children, and others who find it challenging to trek the 13-km-long path to the cave shrine.
The proposed Rs 250-crore project aims to connect Tarakote Marg to Sanji Chhat, which leads to the shrine.
Meanwhile, pilgrims expressed frustration over the shutdown, citing the closure of eateries and the suspension of local transport, which caused significant inconvenience.
“We are facing a lot of difficulties. Where will pilgrims eat or rest during this three-day bandh? This is not the right way to protest,” a pilgrim told reporters.
“We humbly request those leading the protests to call off the strike, as thousands of pilgrims are facing hardships,” he added.
  Share This News with Your Friends on Social Network  
  Comment on this Story  
 
 
 
Early Times Android App
STOCK UPDATE
  
BSE Sensex
NSE Nifty
 
CRICKET UPDATE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
Home About Us Top Stories Local News National News Sports News Opinion Editorial ET Cetra Advertise with Us ET E-paper
 
 
J&K RELATED WEBSITES
J&K Govt. Official website
Jammu Kashmir Tourism
JKTDC
Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board
Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board
Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board
UTILITY
Train Enquiry
IRCTC
Matavaishnodevi
BSNL
Jammu Kashmir Bank
State Bank of India
PUBLIC INTEREST
Passport Department
Income Tax Department
JK CAMPA
JK GAD
IT Education
Web Site Design Services
EDUCATION
Jammu University
Jammu University Results
JKBOSE
Kashmir University
IGNOU Jammu Center
SMVDU