Jammu: The Congress has urged the authorities of the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board to respect the religious sentiments and sanctity of the Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra while undertaking developmental and other activities in the holy township of Katra.
In a party statement, Raman Bhalla and Ravinder Sharma stated that the people of Katra are protesting against certain policies and activities of the authorities, which they claim are contrary to the religious sentiments and sanctity of the Yatra, besides depriving poor people of their livelihood.
They said that lakhs of families depend on the holy Yatra throughout the year. A large number of labourers and poor service providers form the backbone of the Yatra and are solely dependent on the earnings from their hard labour.
They further stated that apart from the developmental aspects, the Yatra holds immense religious importance, history, and sanctity through the traditional route, which must be preserved.
While the prime duty of the Shrine Board is to create facilities for the smooth conduct of the holy Yatra, it cannot ignore the livelihood concerns and the historical and religious aspects associated with its sanctity.
The stakeholders were earlier assured that any such activity would be undertaken only after taking them on board, but that has not happened, leading to widespread agitation among the people.
They also criticised the BJP for the role allegedly played by some of its leaders and questioned the party’s silence on the sensitive issue involving the religious sentiments of Hindus.
The party has urged the authorities to resolve the controversy by taking into account the genuine concerns of the local population and all stakeholders.DD
