Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, Jan, 03
While Jammu region continued to be neglected and deprived by successive state govts in the past, the dogra pride and honour received the deadliest blows during the saffron rule in the state and the centre, said Harsh Dev Singh JKNPP Chairman and Former Minister. And whereas the BJP rule witnessed slew of measures announced for stone-pelters with benefits of SRO-43 and ex-gratia, rehabilitation polices for surrendered militants including unilateral ceasefire, FIRs against armed forces, shelving of Sainik Colony and KP Composite Township projects, grant of lion’s share in recruitments to Kashmir youth, sanction of whopping Rs. 15881 crore for Kashmir metro for appeasement of separatists, the issues of Jammu region contrarily failed to find even a mention during the 3½ year saffron rule. “The intentions of BJP became abundantly clear at the beginning itself when it failed to incorporate any of its election promises in the Agenda of Alliance (AOA) and rather gave legitimacy to the bizarre slogans of ‘Jhelum Vally’ and ‘Pir Panchal regions’ by mentioning them in the common minimum programme of the govt. And thereafter started the process of demeaning and diminishing of Jammu by denying it not only its legitimate share in employment, development etc but by ruthlessly trampling upon our very self respect and dignity as well, said Harsh. He was addressing largely attended public meeting in Parladpur Panchayat of Marh constituency alongwith State President Young Panthers Mr. Yash Paul Kundal besides other leaders.
“Rasana episode is a grim reminder of the BJP’s wicked politicking and its extremely petrifying conduct while in power. Rather than coming to the succour of the people seeking a fair trial in the said case through CBI, the BJP chose to ignore the popular dogra sentiment by taking sides with Kashmir centric forces. The dogras were again betrayed by BJP over the issue of declaration of holiday on 23rd September, the birthday of Maharaja Hari Singh which was another popular demand of the people of Jammu irrespective of their religious or political affiliations. And likewise, the people of Jammu had to resort to agitational course for getting the AIIMS project which though earlier sanctioned for Jammu had been conceded to Kashmir by the power hungry leaders. The BJP rule again witnessed the sanctioning of 49 posts of Kashmir language in Jammu’s Degree Colleges forcing the dogras yet again to take to streets for getting dogri introduced in Jammu colleges”, maintained Mr. Singh.
Pointing towards the removal of Dr. S.P Vaid from the position of DGP and his posting as Transport Commissioner, Mr. Singh said that the demotion of an upright dogra officer had caused great demoralization amongst the Jammu based officers. He said that even earlier BR Sharma the then Chief Secretary and another upright dogra officer was unceremoniously removed in saffron rule without assigning any reason. Similarly another top dogra bureaucrat Anil Goswami was unceremoniously sacked by BJP led govt. in Delhi. And while the plum postings even in Jammu region had been given to Kashmir based officers in saffron rule, the dogra officers were either made to work in most difficult and challenging situations in Kashmir or given insignificant postings in Jammu region.
Prominent among those who spoke on the occasion included Yash Paul Kundal, Rajesh Padgotra, Surinder Chouhan, Parshotam Parihar, Sham Gorkha, Pawan Dev Singh, Anil Rakwal, Sham Lal, Joginder Lal besides others.
