Banihal, Jul 18: The 17th batch of 3,632 pilgrims undertaking the annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu in the early hours of Saturday under multi-layer security arrangements, officials said.

According to the Joint Police Control Room, the Baltal-bound convoy departed at 2:40 a.m., while the Pahalgam-bound convoy left at 3:12 a.m. The pilgrims were escorted in 148 vehicles, including 82 buses, 17 medium motor vehicles (MMVs), 47 light motor vehicles (LMVs) and two two-wheelers.

Of the total pilgrims, 1,008 are travelling via the shorter Baltal route, while 2,624 have opted for the traditional Pahalgam route. The batch comprises 2,650 male pilgrims, 858 female pilgrims, 104 sadhus, 19 sadhvis and one child.

With the departure of the 17th batch, the total number of pilgrims who have left the Jammu base camp for the holy cave shrine this year has reached 112,760.

Meanwhile, as the annual pilgrimage continues, the Ramban district administration has intensified monitoring of facilities for the devotees along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.

Deputy Commissioner Ramban Mohammad Alyas Khan, accompanied by SSP Ramban Arun Gupta, ADC Varunjeet Singh Charak, SDM Banihal Mohammed Naseeb Bajraan and other officers, inspected the Yatra Camp at Lamber Ground Banihal on late evening Friday, to review arrangements for the pilgrims.

The Deputy Commissioner inspected all langars functioning at the camp and reviewed the quality, hygiene and safety of food being served to the pilgrims. He directed the Food Safety Officer to conduct regular inspections and ensure that only fresh, hygienic and nutritious food is served to devotees.

He also reviewed sanitation, drinking water, power supply, accommodation, medical facilities and other essential services at the camp. Interacting with langar organisers, he stressed maintaining high standards of cleanliness and quality service throughout the pilgrimage.

The Deputy Commissioner also interacted with pilgrims, who expressed satisfaction over the arrangements and appreciated the coordinated efforts of the district administration and various departments. He directed all concerned officers to remain vigilant, strengthen inter-departmental coordination and ensure prompt redressal of any issues faced by the pilgrims, while reiterating that regular inspections of langars and other facilities would continue throughout the Yatra.

J&K BJP spokesperson Dr Abhijeet Singh Jasrotia on Friday accused the National Conference (NC) of working against the interests of Jammu and asked all NC leaders from the (Jammu) region to resign enmasse from their party to “prove their loyalty to the region.”

“Silence in the face of repeated insults to Jammu amounts to complicity. If NC leaders from Jammu region have even an iota of self-respect and commitment towards Jammu and the nation, they must immediately resign from the National Conference. I call upon them to resign enmasse from the party to demonstrate their loyalty to Jammu and the nation rather than remaining silent spectators to repeated insults against the region,” he said.

Jasrotia, while addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu, alleged that the NC and Congress had been “systematically neglecting the Jammu region since 1947 and degrading its history, identity and nationalist spirit.”

J&K BJP Media Incharge Dr Pardeep Mahotra, senior leader Varinderjit Singh, SC Morcha president Dharminder Kumar, and ST Morcha leader Ali Mohammad accompanied Jasrotia in the presser.

He expressed anguish over, what he termed as, “repeated attempts by NC leaders to demean the people of Jammu. Referring to a recent statement by a senior NC leader from Reasi, he said the remarks had deeply hurt the sentiments of every resident of Jammu, including Rajouri, Poonch, Bani, Banihal and other border and hilly areas.

Jasrotia asserted that Dogra identity represented people from every religion and community, united under the visionary leadership of Maharaja Hari Singh, who ensured justice, equal opportunities and social harmony across Jammu and Kashmir.

He regretted that despite holding a public programme at Maharaja Hari Singh Park, the National Conference failed to pay tribute to the last ruling Maharaja, exposing its disregard for the historic contributions of the great ruler.

“It is because of the vision of Maharaja that we are able to breathe in free air and are not standing in long queues to beg for even basic amenities. The statement by a senior NC leader from Rajouri that questions the patriotism of Jammu’s people reflects the separatist mindset of the National Conference,” he said.

Jasrotia alleged that the two parties jointly discriminated against Jammu for decades by denying it equitable political representation, development and employment opportunities. He recalled how Pandit Prem Nath Dogra fought relentlessly against, what he said, “regional discrimination.”

“Dogra raised the issue of less Assembly seats to Jammu despite more population before the then national leadership, but he was humiliated and Jammu’s genuine concerns were ignored. Successive NC governments deliberately weakened Jammu’s political voice and ensured that the region remained deprived of its rightful share in governance and development,” Jasrotia alleged.

He stated that while significant developmental momentum was witnessed after 2019 under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the progress again slowed under the present NC-led government.

“Maharaja Hari Singh was a visionary social reformer who opened education and opportunities equally for all communities and initiated landmark reforms benefiting Scheduled Castes and other marginalized sections. In contrast, the NC-Congress governments pursued policies that kept SCs, STs and other weaker sections deprived of their constitutional rights,” he alleged. Referring to the 1996 General Administration Department provisions, he alleged that these governments institutionalised discrimination despite receiving electoral support from those communities.

He said that Jammu always served as the nation’s strongest shield against terrorism and made immense sacrifices to safeguard India’s unity and integrity.

“While Kashmir possesses abundant natural resources, Jammu developed its industrial base through the hard work of its people, but successive NC governments failed to protect and deliberately ditched the promotion of these industries,” Jasrotia alleged.

Dharminder Kumar said that the NC and Congress governments repeatedly denied justice to Scheduled Castes and weaker sections whenever they came to power. He described Maharaja Hari Singh as a great social reformer who abolished discriminatory practices and expanded educational and worship rights for marginalised communities.

Ali Mohammad accused the NC and Congress of exploiting tribal and marginalised communities for vote-bank politics while denying them their legitimate rights. He praised Maharaja Hari Singh for treating every community with equality and appealed to people across all sections of society to unite against what he termed decades of injustice and discrimination inflicted upon Jammu by the NC and Congress.

Jammu, Jul 17: Union Minister of State in PMO, Jitendra Singh on Friday announced that the “gateway to Jammu and Kashmir” will be developed into an attractive entry point through a unique gateway monument and comprehensive beautification works in Lakhanpur, at an estimated cost of over Rs 1.5 crore.
He said the project estimate was already prepared and funds would be mobilised through the Member of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) and other available resources.

Singh also stated that while Shahpur Kandi project had become operational, the work on Ujh multi-purpose project would start soon.
Singh was interacting with the local street food vendors, traders, who accorded him a warm welcome on Friday during his visit to the Lakhanpur vendors’ market. His visit follows the Government of India’s decision to include Lakhanpur among 50 towns across India to be developed as ‘Street Food Hub” under the PM SVANidhi initiative.

Expressing gratitude for the warm welcome, Singh, who is also the Union Minister of State (independent charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences besides being the Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, said the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi consistently focussed on welfare-oriented development rather than vote-oriented politics.
He remarked that several long-pending projects, which had remained neglected before 2014, were revived and implemented with renewed commitment under the present government.

Highlighting the significance of the PM SVANidhi Scheme, the Union Minister said that for the first time in the country’s history, the welfare of street vendors was addressed through a dedicated government initiative. He observed that street vendors had remained outside the policy focus of successive governments, but the sensitivity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ensured that neglected sections of society were brought into the mainstream through schemes that provided dignity, financial support and sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Singh said Lakhanpur’s selection in the first phase of the Street Food Hub initiative highlighted the government’s dedication in empowering small vendors while creating organised, hygienic and visitor-friendly vending spaces.

The Minister informed that the Ministry had received 126 proposals from 32 States and Union Territories, covering 106 Urban Local Bodies and seven census towns.
The proposed Street Food Hub at Lakhanpur will be developed across two clusters in Lakhanpur Market – one near the Old Bus Stand and the other near the Sales Tax Office. Strategically located at the gateway to Jammu and Kashmir from Pathankot and on the route to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, the location witnesses substantial movement of tourists, pilgrims and transit travellers throughout the day.

Spread across 1,754.25 square metres, the hub will provide modern vending infrastructure while promoting Dogra cuisine and other local culinary traditions in a clean, organised and visitor-friendly environment.
Singh said the project was planned keeping local welfare at its core, adding that even the tendering process was designed to maximise benefits for local people. The hubs would showcase Dogra cuisine and other regional delicacies, strengthen local entrepreneurship and transform Lakhanpur from merely a transit point into a recognised culinary destination, he said.

Referring to other major development initiatives in the region, the Union Minister said, “The Shahpur Kandi Project, which had remained stalled for nearly four decades, has now become operational. Along with the revived Ujh multipurpose project, pending for nearly a century and now in its final stages of approval, these projects will significantly improve irrigation facilities in Kathua, Samba and parts of Jammu district while ensuring better utilisation of water resources.”

The minister also inaugurated a statue of Maharaja Gulab Singh at Lakhanpur.
Installed at the gateway to Jammu and Kashmir, the statue has emerged as an important landmark reflecting the cultural and historical identity of the region. Singh maintained that the memorial honoured Maharaja Gulab Singh’s contribution to nation-building while instilling pride among the younger generation about the history and heritage of Jammu and Kashmir.
He further informed that approvals were obtained for naming the Kathua Railway Station after Shaheed Captain Sunil Sharma and expressed confidence that the formal process would be completed shortly.

Responding to queries regarding the shifting of the vehicle fitness testing facility from Kathua to Samba, Singh clarified that the move was necessitated by the establishment of a modern, technology-driven automated testing facility at Samba. He added that the arrangement was temporary and that a proposal to establish a similar state-of-the-art facility in Kathua was already under consideration by the competent authorities.

The local street food vendors and residents thanked the Union Minister for securing the PM SVANidhi Street Food Hub for Lakhanpur, stating that the initiative would provide a clean, organised and dignified working environment for vendors while enhancing facilities for pilgrims, tourists and other visitors.