Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, Feb, 04
Strongly denouncing the BJP for clubbing Jammu with Kashmir and granting it the status of Union Territory, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh JKNPP Chairman and former Minister said that downgrading of the State had come as a bolt from the blue. The decision of the central govt had been full of shock and offence for the nationalist people of Jammu who felt betrayed and downgraded post abrogation of Art 370. While abrogation of Article 370 and 35A had failed to provide any relief to the incarcerated Jammu region, the lowering of status of a 200 years old state to Union Territory had immensely disappointed the people of dogra land who felt disgraced and dishonoured, said Mr. Singh. He was addressing well attended meetings at Kah Da Gola, Lakhod and Marta in Ramnagar constituency.
Countering the argument advanced by BJP leadership that UT status was accorded to J&K only to address the law and order situation in valley, Mr. Singh questioned as to why Jammu was brought within its ambit. “Why should Jammu be made to suffer for the troubles in Kashmir? Why should Jammu region be deprived of its right to have a duly elected govt of its own? Why should it be also brought under central rule alongwith Kashmir? Jammu can’t be allowed to be disgraced merely for the political expediencies of BJP at the centre. If there are trouble makers in Kashmir, the remedy does not lie in punishing the nationalist people of Jammu who have always respected law of the land and stood by the nation”, said Mr. Singh while describing the union govt decision of converting J&K into UT as repulsively bizarre and an insult to dogra land.
Accusing the centre of taking Jammu region people for granted, Mr. Singh cautioned the BJP led govt to refrain from downplaying the sentiments of people of dogra land who gave it massive mandate in Assembly and Parliament elections. He said that the people of dogra land had overwhelmingly voted BJP to power on the strength of its slogans to uphold the honour of dogras who made countless scarifies for creation of the state. He said that Maharaja Hari Singh, the legendary dogra ruler had acceded the state to the Indian union under the belief that that the interest of his subjects and dogras would be duly safeguarded under the Dominion of India. He regretted that the only Dogra State in the country had lost its identity as state for which the BJP led govt was answerable and owed explanation to the dogras inhabiting various parts of the state and the country.
Dwelling over the local issues of the area, Mr. Singh regretted non-payment of compensation to farmers for lands acquired for construction of Langa-Rassaul road and Tagan-Sattian road under PMGSY despite lapse of around seven years. He accused the PHE Deptt of fraudulently showing village Marta to be covered under water supply scheme projects wherein atleast one hundred households had no water connections. He called for up-gradation of Lakhod road besides provision of connectivity to uncovered hamlets including Dugu Su and Neura. He castigated the BJP leadership for having neglected Ramnagar during the last six years with nothing to show on the ground on development front.
Mrs. Manju Singh, General Secretary JKNPP appealed to the people to vote for Panthers Party in large numbers as it alone had the capacity and the audacity to confront the anti-Jammu forces. She said that youth should Join hands do dislodge those who betrayed them despite their lofty promises made during last elections of youth empowerment and Jobs for two crore people per year.
Prominent among those who spoke on the occasion included Sarpanch Marta Bishan Dass Sharma, Sarpanch Bassi Gita Devi, Pawan Dev Singh, Pushpinder Singh, Santosh Kumari, Nisha Devi and Raj Pratap Singh besides others.
