Jammu, Dec 30: The Shiv Sena (UBT) Jammu-Kashmir unit has expressed serious concerns regarding the inconveniences being faced by pilgrims due to the ongoing disputes and strikes related to the proposed ropeway project in Katra.
Addressing a press conference at the party’s state central office here, J&K chief Manish Sahni criticised the Shrine Board for its “rigid stance” on the project and urged it to consider alternative options that would not compromise the sanctity of the yatra.
Sahni said implementing the ropeway project on the Tarakot route would undermine the mythological significance of the pilgrimage. “The pilgrimage of the pilgrims will remain incomplete, and the Shrine Board will become a partner in sin, knowingly or unknowingly,” he said, adding that pilgrims would be deprived of the opportunity to visit important holy sites such as Banganga, Charan Paduka and Ardhkumwari.
To address these concerns, the Shiv Sena UBT leader suggested that if the Shrine Board remains insistent on proceeding with the ropeway project, a consensus should be reached to implement it on the traditional route, starting after the Charan Paduka temple with the first stop at Ardhkumwari. “This compromise would preserve the mythological nature of the Yatra while also ensuring that traders and other stakeholders in Katra do not suffer any financial loss,” he said.
Sahni said a formal request has been submitted to the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, who also serves as the Chairman of the Shrine Board, seeking an opportunity to present this suggestion.
The state chief further demanded the release of members of the Sangharsh Samiti who were arrested during protests, insisting that their detention lacked legal justification.
Present at the press conference were prominent party members, including Vikas Bakshi (General Secretary), Sanjeev Kohli, Balwant Singh (Senior Vice President), and Rohan Malwal (City President), all of whom voiced their support for Sahni’s stance and the importance of preserving the integrity of the pilgrimage experience for devotees.
