Jammu, Dec 30 (KNO): The shutdown in Katra, the base camp for the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage, against the proposed ropeway project intensified on Monday after family members of 18 detained Sangharsh Samiti leaders joined the ongoing protest. Youths continued a hunger strike, demanding the immediate release of those detained by police during the demonstrations.
Led by Shivani Jamwal, the wife of detained Samiti leader Bhupinder Singh, several women family members of the detained leaders threatened self-immolation if their loved ones were not released.
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Shivani Jamwal, speaking to the reporters said she had met her husband and the other detained Samiti leaders, who have been in custody since December 25. She stated the detainees' health has deteriorated significantly, with many losing several kilogrammes of weight. “They are in a bad state of health,” Jamwal said, adding that their condition is worsening every day.
Shivani criticised political parties for exploiting the situation. “They come here to play politics but have failed to secure the release of our loved ones.” She urged the Lieutenant Governor and the administration to intervene, saying some detainees have severe health conditions requiring immediate attention.
The bandh, now in its sixth consecutive day, has brought the holy town to a standstill. All shops, restaurants, and businesses remained closed, and vehicular traffic was off the roads. The shutdown has disrupted life in one of the busiest pilgrimage hubs, with thousands of pilgrims arriving daily to visit the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. The number of devotees visiting the shrine has reportedly dropped due to the protests.
The Sangharsh Samiti announced the extension of the bandh till January 1, 2025, vowing to continue the fight against the government’s proposed ropeway project. “This is a battle for survival and dignity, and for ensuring that the traditional route to Mata’s shrine remains intact,” a Samiti spokesperson said.
He accused the government of worsening the situation by refusing to release the detainees or engage in meaningful dialogue. Meanwhile, five youths have been on a hunger strike since Wednesday night, demanding the release of the detained leaders.
In a rare show of unity, BJP MLA Baldev Raj Sharma and former Congress minister Jugal Kishore Sharma shared the stage in support of the Sangharsh Samiti, setting aside their political differences. Their joint presence was seen as a symbolic gesture of solidarity for the ongoing agitation.
The proposed Rs 250-crore Vaishno Devi ropeway project, announced last month by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, aims to connect Tarakote Marg to Sanji Chhat to facilitate access to the shrine for senior citizens, children and others who find it challenging to climb the 13-km track.
The Sangharsh Samiti, however, opposes the project, claiming it will affect the livelihood of local residents and disrupt the sanctity of the traditional pilgrimage route—(KNO)