Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 9: The poneywallahs, pithoos and palkiwallahs today blocked track of holy cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi ji at Darshani Deodi, about one kilometer from Katra, in protest against what they called the Shrine Board decision to convert newly construct Katra-Adh Kunwari track as motorable, which will hit them hard.
However, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) CEO AK Sahu denied that there was any proposal with the Shrine Board to make the road from Katra to Adh Kunwari motorable.
“There is no such proposal with the Shrine Board,’’ he told the Excelsior.
Sahu said the poneywallahs, pithoos and other workers didn’t meet the Shrine Board officials to know their view and stand.
“They never approached us with any kind of memorandum or demands,’’ he said, adding the poneywallahs and other workers fell under the domain of district administration.
Meanwhile, the pilgrims on either side of the track remained stranded for couple of hours as the poneywallahs, palkiwallahs and pithoos, working on the track, refused to budge saying their livelihood will be hit if the road was converted into motorable.
The slogans shouting workers lifted dharna after local officials persuaded them. The yatra was resumed from Katra after the workers lifted their dharna.
Though the workers lifted their dharna, they went ahead with their strike and didn’t carry the pilgrims or their luggage to and fro Katra and Bhawan.
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