Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 11: Congress, National Panthers Party, the Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industries, High Court Bar Association, besides several other political, trade, social, transport and youth organizations today held strong protest demonstrations across the region, against the terrorists’ attack on pilgrims returning from Shri Amarnath ji Yatra in Kashmir on Monday evening.
In Jammu, a large number of Congress Party demonstrators including senior functionaries of PCC, DCC and Block committees and Youth Congress marched through main bazaars of old city carrying effigies and raising slogans against Pakistan “Mother of terrorism” and the PDP-BJP Government in the State and the Centre Government for the failure to ensure safety of Yatries despite tall claims of fool proof security and demanded that State Govt should resign for its utter failure to tackle terrorism.
Led by senior PCC leaders, the Congress workers started their protest demonstration from PCC head office Shaheedi Chowk Jammu and marched through various parts of the city, passing through Residency Road, Raghunath Chowk, Raghunath Bazar, City Chowk, Kanak Mandi, Rajinder Bazar and culminated at Shaheedi Chowk.
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The demonstrators burnt the effigies of Pakistan at City Chowk, describing that country as mother of terrorism and raised slogans demanding resignation of PDP-BJP government in the State.
Addressing the gathering PCC senior vice president Sham Lal Sharma lashed out at the State and Centre Governments for their utter failure to check the militant attack inspite of serious threats and inputs from various intelligence agencies of such a possible attack on Yatra which was already target of militants designs. But both State and Centre Government failed to ensure incident free Yatra.
PCC vice president Raman Bhalla alleged that State Government has failed to provide security to the pilgrims. He demanded probe into security lapse and action against those responsible for it. Bhalla alleged that State Government is trying to escape responsibility by claiming that the bus was not part of the Yatra convoy and even not registered.
Various senior leaders of the party including Kanta Bhan, Ravinder Sharma, Vikram Malhotra, Yogesh Sawhney, Manmohan Singh, Shah Mohd Choudhary, Namrata Sharma, Manjit Singh, DCC president Anil Chopra, PYC president Pranav Shagotra, YB Sharma, KL Gupta, S Gurdarshan Singh, S Gajan Singh, Neeraj Gupta, Thomas Khokar, Manjit Singh Jatt, Sanjeev Sharma, BB Gupta, Dr RK Khajuria, ML Malager, Jai Singh and Satish Sharma also joined the protest.
The Congress workers led by their local leaders of Congress and Youth Congress held similar protest demonstrations at various district and blocks headquarters of Jammu province against Pakistan, denouncing terrorism and failure of State and Centre Government.
At Udhampur, Congress workers held a protest demonstration at Dhar Road and Dabbar Chowk and lodged strong protest over the attack. The protest were led by DCC president Ashok Gupta and Ex-MLA Krishan Bhagat.
At Katra massive Congress protest march was taken out under the leadership of former minister and senior party leader Jugal Kishore Sharma. The workers were raising slogans against the BJP-PDP Govt and Pakistan for terrorists attack on pilgrims.
Similar protest was held at Kathua led by Subash Gupta (Ex-MLC) and Naresh Sharma. At Bhaderwah ex-MLC Naresh Gupta was leading the protest. Similar protests were led at Poonch, Rajouri, Vijaypur, Samba, Reasi, Bishnah, Akhnoor, Billawar, Basohli, Nagrota Gujru, RS Pura, Ramnagar, Kishtwar and Doda.
National Conference (NC) called for putting up a brave and united fight against terrorism, saying the end to this scourge is imperative for lasting peace in Jammu and Kashmir and elsewhere in the country.
Provincial president of the party Devender Singh Rana (MLA), who was leading the NC rank and file at a protest dharna on Residency Road Jammu, in support of the Jammu bandh and to protest against the innocent killings of the Amarnath Yatris, unequivocally condemned the attack and said that terrorism has no place in a civilized society.
“A terrorist has no religion; a terrorist is a terrorist and must be treated as a terrorist”, he said and appealed all to fight and defeat terrorism unitedly.
Rana said, ” It is a nefarious design to vitiate the secular fabric of the state and we all must unitedly work to thwart this conspiracy against the idea of Jammu and Kashmir and the idea of India.”
Describing Shri Amarnath ji Yatra as perhaps the only unique pilgrimage across the world which is being performed by one community and facilitated by the another community. “The Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra is a shining symbol of Kashmiriyat and the valley’s pluralistic ethos that has withstood test of times”, Rana said while exuding confidence that terrorists cannot succeed in breaking the core of Kashmir ethos by such dastardly acts. He said the people of the state and the country will see through the nefarious game plan and remain vigilant against their mechanizations.
The NC leaders and workers observed two-minute silence over the inhuman killing of seven Amarnathji pilgrims in Anantnag district last evening and prayed for peace to departed souls and strength to the bereaved families to bear their irreparable loss.
Prominent among those who led the procession and participated in the sit in dharna were Surjeet Singh Slathia, Ajay Kumar Sadhotra, Satwant Kour Dogra, Peeer Mushtaq Ahmed Bukhari, Rattan Lal Gupta, Rachpal Singh, Babu Ram Paul, Kashmira Singh, Sheikh Bashir Ahmed, Brij Mohan Sharma, Satpal Lakhotra, Dharamveer Singh Jamwal Ch Haroon, Abdul Gani Teli, Gurdeep Singh Sassan, Bashir Ahmed Wani, Arshad Choudhary, Ch Rehmat Ali, Ashok Dogra, Ashok Singh Manhas, Subash Bhagat, Anil Dhar, Bhushan Lal Bhat, Surinder Singh Bunty, KD Singh, Pardeep Bali, Vijay Lochan, Rakesh Singh, Rohit Bali and others.
National Panthers Party (NPP) while condemning the brutal terror attack on the bus of Amarnath yatris in Anantnag, Kashmir, which left 7 people killed on Monday evening, staged strong protest demonstration and demanded dismissal of PDP-BJP Govt in the State.
The NPP activists led by Harsh Dev Singh, chairman of the party and Yash Paul Kundal, State president Young Panthers, staged a protest demonstration at Dogra Chowk, Jammu. The infuriated protestors amid raising anti- BJP and ant-Govt slogans took out a appeal march in Jammu city urging shopkeepers, traders, businessmen, youth and people at large to observe a complete Bandh. They raised slogans seeking dismissal of BJP-PDP Govt in the State.
Peeved over the deteriorating situation in J&K due to BJP-PDP coalition’s surrender to the dictates of secessionists in Kashmir, Harsh Dev said that there were no signs of Government on the ground in the State and the coward act of the militants killing 7 innocent yatris had exposed the communal character of the secessionist forces and subversives operating in Kashmir. Terming the terror attack on pilgrims as attack on humanity, he lampooned the Coalition Govt for having grossly failed to respond appropriately to the situation created in the State in the aftermath of unholy BJP-PDP alliance.
Deploring further, the State Human Rights Commission directing the J&K Govt to pay compensation of Rs 10 lakhs to the ring leader of stone pelters Farooq Dar, he said that such kind of incentives would further embolden the miscreants and anti- nationals and encourage them.
Senior leaders Rajesh Padgotra, Gagan Partap, Shankar Singh and Sham Gorkha also spoke on the occasion.
NPP activists led by ex-MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia staged similar protest demonstration at Salathia Chowk, Udhampur on Dhar Road today. The protesters burnt effigy of State Govt and blocked road for about an hour. Mankotia demanded a compensation of Rs 10 lakhs in favour of families of the deceased pilgrims. At Ramnagar also, a large protest demonstration was held by NPP workers demanding imposition of Governor’s rule in the State.
Condemning strongly the dastardly brutal terror attack on the innocent Amarnath Yatris travelling in a bus near Anantnag killing seven and injuring many critically, Jammu Province Peoples’ Forum (JPPF) urged the Centre to react strongly against the anti-national elements hell bent to destabilize the social fabric, sovereignty and integrity of the country.
Addressing the members during a protest near Maharaja Hari Singh statue on Tawi Bridge, president JPPF, Pavittar Singh Bhardwaj said that the JPPF is already observing Jammu bandh today in protest against the evil designs of the anti-national forces who had already issued warnings to disrupt Yatra by killing Yatris and the members of security forces.
“Although Centre had deployed sufficient security cover yet their strike should open the eyes,” he said it is high time that the anti-national elements including separatists are charged with the murder of the innocent Yatris whose security is the responsibility of the State and the Centre.
Later, all the JPPF members and activists took out a protest rally on Tawi Bridge which after passing through Bikram Chowk culminated at protest venue.
While expressing sympathies with the kins of the deceased Yatris, JPPF members demanded sufficient compensation for the deceased and wished early recovery of the injured and assured them that whole the nation is behind them in this hour of grief.
Two minutes silence was observed with prayer to Almighty to bestow peace to the departed souls.
Besides Working president MS Katoch, the demonstration was attended by State presidents, Ram Sena, Rajiv Mahajan, Avinash Bhatia, Ch Kamal Singh, Suneeta Sharma, Preeti Chowdhari, Prof OP Sharma, Pritam Sharma, Rajesh Thakur, PS Slathia, Kuldip Sharma and Pawan Sharma.
The work in all the courts throughout the Jammu province remained suspended today on the call given by J&K High Court Bar Association, Jammu in protest against terror attack on Amarnath pilgrims.
The members of J&K High Court Bar Association Jammu staged a massive protest in and outside the court complex at Janipur against the killing of innocent Amarnath Yatris and took out a procession led by Prem Sadotra, General Secretary, from Court Complex to Main Janipur Road. Another massive demonstration was held on Janipur-Ambhphalla Road.
The delegation of Bar Association headed by Sachin Gupta, Vice President also participated in the meeting of civil society called by Divisional Commissioner and lodged a strong protest against the failure of the administration to secure the precious lives of the Amarnath Yatris belonging to different parts of the country.
The Bar Association declared that it could go to any extent to fight the anti national forces and protect and advance the country’s paramount national interest. “We will not allow third partition of India on religious grounds”, the Association said and demanded Rs 25 lakh ex-gratia payment for each of the kin of martyred Yatris and Rs 10 lakh each to those who were injured in the attack.
Later, addressing a press conference, Bar President Senior Advocate B S Slathia criticized the police administration for spreading rumours that bus was not registered with Shri Amarnath Shrine Board.
“It is just an attempt of the Government to deflect the attention of the wounded nation from its utter failure to provide foolproof security to the Yatris”, he further said.
In Kathua, the District Bar Association Vice-President Ajatshatru Sharma, while addressing the media, said, “PDP-BJP coalition cannot escape from its responsibility to ensure the safety and security of Amarnath pilgrims”.
“Legal fraternity is not going to tolerate such kind of security lapses and casual approach of State Government on the issue of terrorism”, he said. The District Bar Association said that Dr Nirmal Singh has proved to be a weak Deputy Chief Minister as he should have been deeply involved in ensuring fool-proof security for Amarnath pilgrims.
The Jammu Chamber of Commerce & Industries (JCCI) today staged a symbolic protest at City Chowk Jammu to condemn the cowardly act carried out by the terrorists to fire upon and kill innocent Amarnath pilgrims mostly women.
Chamber president Rakesh Gupta appealed to the Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to send bangles for these terrorist organisations as they did inhuman act of killing innocent Amarnath Yatries that too women that is not allowed in any religion. Chamber president also thanked one and all of Jammuites for observing one day peaceful bandh and also to the Muslim brethren who observed complete shutdown in Muslim dominated areas.
Jammu Chamber president also appealed to all the people to come out in large number for Amarnath pilgrimage to give a befitting reply to the coward terrorists.
Senior members Rajesh Gupta, Rajeev Gupta, Gaurav Gupta and Ashu Gupta also joined the protest.
Meanwhile, a large number of activists of Team Jammu led by its chairman Zorawar Singh Jamwal today took out massive protest demonstration against brutal killing of seven Amarnath Yatries by Pakistan sponsored terrorists in Anantnag area of Kashmir valley.
Demonstration passed through different bazaars of the walled city amid shouting of anti-government and anti-Pakistan slogans. Activists also urged shopkeepers to down their shutters against gruesome killing of Amarnath Yatries by the Islamic terrorists.
Addressing people at different places, Jamwal said that attack on Amarnath Yatries has exposed the so-called security arrangements made by the Centre as well as State Government for this year’s Yatra. He said that biggest terror attack on Yatra was executed by terrorists in the year 2000.
“For the last 17 years no such incident has been taken place. This year terrorists managed to target Yatra due to pro-militant policies being adopted by the PDP-BJP Government in the State”, he said and pointed out that due to political reasons BJP has given its consent to shift security forces, especially Army from the hinter land South Kashmir and after systemic shifting of the Army, terrorists have managed to gain ground in South Kashmir”.
At Gujru Nagrota in Billawar, a protest demonstration was held under the leadership of Pankaj Basotra State general secretary Pradesh Youth Congress & Convenor ABMS (Atyachar Brashtachar Mukti Sangathan) in which large number of youth participated and burn the effigy of Chief Minister Mehboba Mufti and also raised the slogans against her and Pakistan . The protesters also bocked the Udhampur Dhar road for an hour also.
While addressing the youth and the locals Basotra said that yesterday’s attack on Amarnath ji Yatris proved the failure of PDP- BJP Government to ensure the smooth functioning of Amarnathji Yatra. He also said that intelligence agencies have already given reports of terrorist attack on pilgrims at any time but on the other hand BJP and PDP Government especially the BJP Ministers and MLA’s from Jammu region are busy to take credit of GST which has been recently passed by the PDP and BJP Government.
VHP, Bajrang Dal and SD Sabha members and Beopar Mandal also held protests at Poonch, Rajouri, Nowshera, Sunderbani, Kathua, Reasi and Jammu. At Sunderbani, the people blocked road for about an hour and raised anti -Pak slogans. At Jammu several Sikh organisations including SAD and DGPC held protests and condmned the killings of pilgrims in Kashmir.
Shiv Sena Hindustan took out strong condemning terror attack on Amarnath pilgrims and torched Pakistan flag for its support to the terrorism in Kashmir.
Condemning Pakistan and denouncing terrorism in the State, the protest march was taken out in different bazaars of city, under the leadership of State president Pt Rajesh Kesri. They raised slogans denouncing Pakistan for sponsoring and supporting terrorism in the Kashmir valley and lauded the security forces for eliminating terrorists and defeating their designs.
Criticizing the Government for its failure to ensure fool proof security of the pilgrims, they also appealed people to maintain peace and religious brotherhood and isolate the anti-national and mischievous elements to defeat their nefarious designs.
The leaders and activists of Shri Amarnath Yatra Welfare Society (SAYWS), led by its national president Kiran Wattal and general secretary Raju Chandel, staged a protest demonstration against terror attack on Amarnath pilgrims.
Kiran Wattal, while addressing the gathering, termed the attack on pilgrims as one of the darkest days of present time. “What makes the day more poignant is the fact that while human rights of innocent pilgrims are being violated, the self style champions of human rights in India maintain the silence over such attacks by Pakistan sponsored terrorists,” he said
He further said that mere condemnation won’t suffice and the Government must ensure that the radical forces are completely uprooted and peace reinstated in the State.
Sunil Dimple, president Jammu West Assembly Movement, led a protest rally against the Pakistan militants and also burnt effigies of separatist leaders.
Addressing protesters, Sunil Dimple strongly condemned the terror attack on Amarnath pilgrims and demanded the resignation from Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Deputy CM, Dr Nirmal Singh for their failure in providing security to the pilgrims.
He said that the attack on Amarnath Yatra is attack on India and people would not tolerate the attack on Hindu religion as well as Hindustan.
Reports from Vijaypur in Samba district said that separate protests were held here by Vijaypur Beopar Mandal and Vijaypur Youth Brigade, against attack on Amarnath pilgrims.
The protesting people were demanding dismissal of present Coalition Government in J&K and imposition of Governor’s rule. They also torched the effigy of State Government and raised slogans against it.
In Samba town, a protest demonstration was organized at Main Chowk by Beopar Mandal. Shouting slogans against Pakistan and terrorism, the protesters also took out a march on Jammu-Pathankot National Highway resulting into disruption of traffic for some time.
At Kathua also, the protesting people blocked National Highway at Kali Bari and raised anti-Govt and anti-Pakistan slogans. They also burnt the effigy of Pakistan. The BJP activists also held protest demonstration in Kathua town and raised slogans against Pakistani. Prem Nath Dogra, district president of the party was leading the protest.
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