Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Aug 30: The Minister of State for Finance and Planning, Ajay Nanda today reiterated the demand of Katra people that newly developed track to Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine should be linked with Banganga area and the Shrine Board must take locals into confidence for its projects.
Addressing media persons, here today, Mr Nanda sought to clarify that Katra people were not against extending more facilities to the visiting pilgrims but the same should not be done at the cost of their livelihood. “We are only demanding that the new track should be linked to Katra, somewhere between Darshni Dyodi and Banganga, so that the Katra businessmen are not adversely affected with the opening of new route,” he explained and warned that the new track would not allowed to be opened till this demand is conceded by the Shrine Board.
Fearing that opening of new track would adversely hit the small businessmen on existing route, Ajay Nanda stressed that the Shrine Board should take care of such issue and sanctity of the pilgrimage.
Accusing the Shrine Board of being anti-people and working in autocratic manner, Ajay Nanda, who is MLA of Reasi Assembly constituency, alleged that locals were deprived of the benefits of all developmental works, undertaken by the Board. ” The Shrine Board should provide quota to locals in all its institutions and take Katra people into confidence vis-a-vis its developmental projects,” he added.
In response to a query over NC allegation of RSS trying to take control of the Shrine Board, the Minister said that instead of resorting to criticism, all the political parties should support the demand for making the Board more democratic so that people of the area may have more say in the management body.
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