BJP president Nadda pays obeisance at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine

Katra/Jammu, Mar 1 (PTI) BJP president J P Nadda and Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Saturday offered prayers at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta hills in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district, officials said.

Nadda, who is also the Union health minister, was accompanied by his wife Mallika Nadda, BJP National General Secretary and in-charge of Jammu and Kashmir, Tarun Chugh and Jammu and Kashmir BJP president Sat Sharma, they said.

A spokesperson of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) said the two Union ministers paid obeisance at the sanctum sanctorum.

Upon their arrival at Katra, the base camp of the shrine, the dignitaries were received by Chief Executive Officer of the SMVDSB, Anshul Garg, who briefed them about the various initiatives undertaken by the board, including an upcoming medical college being set up at Kakryal, the spokesperson said.

He said the CEO highlighted the board’s efforts to upgrade and expand the existing infrastructure to provide enhanced facilities and services to the ever-increasing number of pilgrims visiting the holy shrine.

Nadda expressed his deep appreciation for the endeavours of the board aimed at facilitating the journey and holy ‘darshan’ of the pilgrims.

He commended the board’s commitment to ensuring a smooth, safe and spiritual experience for all devotees visiting the shrine, the spokesperson said.

Later, Nadda reached the two-day training workshop organised by the BJP for its 28 legislators- a majority of whom are first-timers — ahead of the budget session, which is scheduled to start on March 3.

The ‘Vidahayak Prashishan Shivir’ was jointly inaugurated by BJP National General Secretary B L Santosh and Sat Sharma at a hotel in Katra on Friday. Nadda and Jitendra Singh are scheduled to address the concluding session of the workshop.

The focus of the workshop is to ensure the effective participation of the BJP legislators in the assembly proceedings.