Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 12: The erstwhile Baridars of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine at Katra have reminded Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the State BJP leadership to honour their commitment for proper rehabilitation of the community at par with the Baridars of religious shrines in Himachal Pradesh.
Click here to watch video
While addressing a press conference here today, president of the Seva Committee Baridaran, Rachhpal Singh said that erstwhile Baridars, comprising nearly 30,000 souls, had been waiting for justice since 1986, when management and control of the religious shrine was taken over by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.
“Since then, we have been pleading our case for proper rehabilitation before the top leadership of the ruling political parties including the National Conference, Congress, PDP and the BJP, who assured support to our demand but after victory of their candidates in elections, these parties forget us,” he lamented.
He recalled that during the 2014 Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had personally assured permanent solution of Baridars’ issue during his public speech in the rally held at Udhampur. “The Seva Committee Baridaran has been consistently in touch with the top leadership of the State BJP as well as PMO through MOS Dr Jatendra Singh for proper rehabilitation of the community but nothing concrete has been done so far in this direction,” he added and reiterated the demanded for 50 percent share to the them in the offerings at the shrine.
It may be recalled that management of world famous shrine was taken over by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board under an Act in 1986 and since then, these erstwhile Baridars, who were performing Puja and other rituals there, have been demanding their rehabilitation and a share in the offerings.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
