Novel way of
protest
Sir,
Bandh today, Bandh
tomorrow and Bandh on this and that day. Has any
body cared about the losses suffered by the
Business community and the general public on
account of these Bandhs? No. Whether it is a call
from Student unions or from any Political party,
the Bandh should be successful and complete. This
is what we, Jammuites feel in general. Political
parties or the student unions make it a point to
find an opportunity to highlight their activities
vis a vis their existence. Thousands of people
have to suffer due to such strikes and hartals
whether they are labourers, Bank, Govt or private
employees. Vaishno Devi pilgrims and tourists
suffer for want of conveyance, food and shopping
which, in turn, tells upon the business of the
people of the area Same is the situation in
Srinagar. The hartals and strikes have to be
obeyed by the general public, due to one reason
or the other. Apart from this, the militant
organizations feel a sense of satisfaction with
these disturbances and make their bosses, across
the border, happy with every hartal or strike
whether it is in Jammu or in Kashmir.
No doubt, the
political leaders have to and should highlight
some of the acts of mismanagements on the part of
Govt/Administration. But can't there be some
other way of expressing the grievances and
feelings of the public, so that there is no loss
of production in factories, no suffering to
pilgrims of Vaishno Devi or the other tourists,
and no loss to the business in General. In
addition the people suffer a recurring loss due
to closure of offices and banks Just imagine what
message is conveyed to the pilgrims and tourist
who suffers due to these unforeseen bandhs and
strikes. And what will be the effect of all this.
Sure, a reduction in the inflow of tourists. At
present @ 20,000 tourists per day to Vaishno Devi
and other places, means a loss of hundreds of
thousands of rupees per day by way of travelling,
boarding & lodging, shopping and other
expenses in Jammu itself. This, of course, apart
from the losses in the production sector and
studies of the students depriving them of
opportunities at the national level. Thus causing
an immense loss.
Let us adopt, a
way of protest, by putting up Black badges on our
shoulders or on the front pockets continuously
till our demands are fulfilled. Let all the
Jammuites wear it, whether they are common
workers, shopkeepers, bank employees. Govt
servants or Leaders, whosoever feel aggrieved.
And Leaders also should make it a point to
mention and express their resentment in every
forum, whether it is a Govt or a private. It
should be made one of the matters of discussion
at every function. If every body, who is sincere
for the demand, makes a pledge to make it so,
there is no reason why we can't achieve our
targets. Because it will be a mass mobilization
and not just a group of students or people
battling with the Police. As far as I believe,
such protests will also serve as conscious
shakers for authorities, rather than to indulge
in brick batting, facing tear gas shells, burning
vehicles and damaging Govt property. After all,
they are also human beings and their conscious
will force them to think for a solution to the
problem. Let us make a step forward and save
ourselves from unnecessary losses. This shall be
a great contribution from us to the society and
Nation on the whole.
Yours etc...
B M Kohli
5/202 Indira Vihar
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