Jammu, July 7 (KNS): Seeking comprehensive financial package for pony, pithu and pali walas, Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party (JKAP) have appealed the Lt Governor Girish Chander Murmu for his personal intervention to re-open tourism sector and religious places across Jammu and Kashmir with a motive to revive shattered economy associated with these sectors.
In a joint statement issued to KNS , the former minister Aijaz Ahmed Khan, former minister Manjit Singh and senior leader, JKAP, Vikram Malhotra have appealed the Government to open the religious places so that the business associated their religious places can be revived to support the businessmen and their families facing financial crises with the closing of the sector.
They said that the Mata Vaishno Devi in Katra, historic Raghunath Temple in Jammu’s Old City, Bawe Wali Mata Temple at historic fort near Bagh-e-Bahu, Satwari Zayarat, Shahdara Sharief Zayarat in Rajouri district, Shiv Khori in Reasi, Peer Kho cave, Shrine of Shah Asrar popularly known as Darbar-e Asrariya and Astan-e-Payeen in Kishtwar, Machail Mata, Buddha Amarnath Ji in Poonch, Chauntra Mata Temple in the hills of Ramnagar in Udhampur district and other such religiously important places should be re-opened for the visitors and devotees.
“Jammu and Kashmir has always being an attractive place for religious pilgrimage and tourism sector. However, during lockdown due to covid spread, the business establishments associated with the tourism sector and religious places has been shattered completely,” said the JKAP senior leaders while asking Government to review their decision and grant permission to re-open these places.
Similarly, the tourism places like Surinsar, Mansar, Patnitop, Sanasar, Bhaderwah’s Jhai Valley and other places should be thrown open for the visitors so that the tourism sector can be revived.
There is a need to revive the economy linked with these sectors especially in view of suffering of the small traders, taxi operators, shopkeepers, Pony wala, Palki walas, Reheri walas and Phari walas.
“The Government must announce some financial package for the pony walas, pithu walas and palki walas of Amarnath Ji yatra and Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Katra who have no other source of earning,” said the JKAP senior leaders in a joint statement.
They said that “Lt Governor Girish Chander Murmu should personally intervene by announcing a comprehensive financial support to revival encouraging the business men, shopkeepers, hoteliers, taxi operators, and others to earn their livelihood.”
They said that from last one year, the Jammu and Kashmir’s tourism and religious sectors have remained shattered after August 5, 2019 and now, due to coronavirus and the situation must be reviewed. (KNS)