High powered Congress delegation stopped for one hour,near Bun toll on way to Katra 

Bhalla, Lal Singh, Ravinder, Dr Manohar meet agitating labourers at katra 

Katra, November 27:- Senior Congress leaders  Shri Raman Bhalla,Ch Lal Singh,Ravinder Sharma,Dr Manohar Lal Sharma and others were restrained for about one hour from proceeding to Katra to meet agitating labourers / pithuwalas & it was only after intervention of Divisional Commissioner Jammu that they were allowed to go.

Earlier a delegation of seniorCongress  leaders met the Divisional commissioner Jammu and discussed the situation in Katra especially arrest of some labourers & laathicharge on the labour leaders at  Katra.They lodged protest over the action of police after the negotiations of administration and suspension of agitation.

The Divisional commissioner immediately intervened and directed for release of arrested persons.

The delegation also comprised of Namrata Sharma,Bhushan Dogra,Sanjeev Panda, Jayant Pathiania,,Jatinder Manhas.

Later the delegation visited Katra and met hundreds of agitating labourers who were waiting for the arrival of Congress leaders at Shalamar park under the leadership of Bhupinder Singh.The large  gatheringraised strong slogans in favour of Congress leaders for their solidarity and support.

They thanked the Congress leaders for their support and arrival to meet them and getting their labourers released from police custody.

Shri Bhupinder Singh,Sohan Singh and other speakers explained the whole episode.They said that they were peacefully agitating their cause and later administration intervened in the matter and was decided to hold further dialogue on the contentious issue of ropeway as it would leave thousands of labourers jobless.

However the police resorted to harsh action next day vitiating the atmosphere and also beat up and arrested the leaders.

Speaking on the occasion Raman Bhalla,Ch Lal Singh,Dr Manohar Lal Sharma & Ravinder Sharma assured support for justice to the labourers in the amicable solution to the issue.They urged them to peacefully agitating their issue.

The leaders expressed concern over  the livelihood of thousands of workers engaged in facilitating the pilgrims to the holy shrine besides the trade in Katra by the proposed move and asked to administration and shrine board to address the issues of all stakeholders before going ahead with the project,so that there is no disruption in the smooth yatra.

They also expressed gratitude to the Div commissioner for his intervention and asked the administrative  machinery not to adopt anti labourers attitude and harsh approach and sort out the issue through dialogue taking into account the interests & welfare of labourers and traders also,  by involving them while planning decisions for all sorts of facilities for pilgrims.