Citing ‘deity’s orders’, locals stage protest against Bijali Mahadev ropeway project

The faith in the local deity (devta) runs supreme in Himachal Pradesh and this was witnessed once again on Friday as residents took to streets seeking scrapping of the Bijali Mahadev ropeway project citing “deity's orders”.

- Shailee Dogra

The protesters which had sizeable number of women and elderly, was mobilised by the Bijili Mahadev Ropeway Sangharsh Samiti (BMRSS) and they submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union minister Nitin Gadkari demanding cancellation of the project citing “deity's orders.”

Deputy Commissioner, Kullu, Torul S Raveesh, on Friday said: “A memorandum was handed over and we will be forwarding the same to the government.”

MLA defends project, terms protest politically motivated

MLA of Kullu, Sunder Singh Thakur said, “Those against development are opposing the project in garb of the devta’s order and the project is politically motivated.”