Controversy Surrounds Katra Ropeway: Congress Criticizes Administration

Congress leader Tariq Hameed Karra criticizes the Jammu and Kashmir administration for imposing a travel restriction on a party delegation intending to visit Katra over the controversial Ropeway project, which threatens local livelihoods. The Congress urges dialogue and calls for investigations into the undemocratic action.

Jammu, Jan 1 (PTI) - The Katra Ropeway project has become a flashpoint in Jammu and Kashmir politics, with Tariq Hameed Karra of the Congress branding the administration's decision to block a party delegation to Katra as 'totally undemocratic'. This interference prevented the group from engaging with those impacted by the proposed development.

In response, Karra called on Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to scrutinize the circumstances of this decision, emphasizing the necessity for constructive discussions with stakeholders. He advocated for a high-level committee to secure local traders' livelihoods, expressing that while development is vital, it should not jeopardize economic interests.

The incident has sparked a stern reaction from the Congress, who accused the local authorities of exacerbating tensions surrounding the Ropeway, risking damage to a pivotal socio-economic framework reliant on the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage. Bhalla, a Congress leader, warned that hundreds of livelihoods could be at risk, with the project commercializing a sacred site.

(With inputs from agencies.)