Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 3: Senior BJP leader and former Minister Choudhary Lal Singh today said that his newly floated Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan would fight the Panchayat elections in the State being held in nine-phases from November 17.
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Addressing a press conference here today, Ch Lal Singh said that Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan will take part in the Panchayat elections which are being held on non-party basis. He claimed that after elections his Sangathan will have the highest number of Sarpanches in the State.
Ch Lal Singh, a BJP Legislator from Basohli Assembly constituency in district Kathua, further said that DSS is emerging as strong voice of the people of the Jammu region.
The former Minister had floated DSS in July this year, to mark 100 days of his agitation to press for a CBI probe into the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl of Rasana in Kathua district.
Though Ch Lal Singh had initially claimed that his group will be apolitical in nature, yet its 21-point vision document showed a clear political agenda. The document focused on various issues including rotational chief ministers, separate Public Service Commissions and Service Selection Board, promotion of Dogra art, culture and language among others.
“Since our Sangathan was apolitical in nature, we did not participate in the recently held Municipal elections nor supported anyone but still we have a number of Corporators and Councilors who won these elections on their own,” he said.
Alleging that Dogras of Jammu region have been facing discrimination for the last seven decades, the BJP leader said he wanted the Kashmir based politicians to ensure equality.
“We want Jammu and Kashmir to stand united but we will not tolerate discrimination any more,” he maintained.
“We have formed this Sangathan and it will fight for the rights of the people of entire Jammu region irrespective of colour, creed and religion and will intensify its movement for the restoration of lost prestige and dignity of the Dogras,” he added.
Lal Singh, who along with another BJP Minister resigned from the previous PDP-BJP Government on the charges of backing the accused in the Kathua rape and murder case, said the Kashmir based politicians defamed the people of Jammu. He said the demand for a CBI probe was to seek justice for the minor Rasana girl.
Meanwhile, the Ch Lal Singh who is president of the DSS today announced Central body and 36- member Central Working Committee.
While he himself is president, seven vice presidents are- K D Singh, Sham Lal ( Retd IAS), R L Bharti (Retd IFS), Kuljeet Singh, Rajinder Gupta, Bhupinder Singh and Sunita Sharma; Dr Hari Dutt Shishu general secretary, seven secretaries are -S Balbir Singh Azad, Mohan Lal Malagar, Ashok Jain, Adv Pushvinder Singh (I/C Youth wing), Dr Shubhnandan Singh, S Daljeet Singh and Geeta Thakur while Bgdr Rajan Jamwal and Adv Kirti Bhushan are spokespersons.
Ex-MLA Kanta Andotra (Ch Lal Singh’s wife), Maj Gen (Retd) GS Jamwal, Retd IGP Kamal Saini, Retd CE K K Gupta, Prof H R Sharma, Dinesh Gupta, Yash Pal Gupta, Retd (DC) Ajay Singh Jamwal, Retd SSP Raghubir Singh are among 36 Central Working Committee members.
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