Protest in Budhal; indefinite bandh, dharna launched

Excelsior Correspondent
RAJOURI, Feb 2: People from Budhal area today launched indefinite dharna and held strong protest by observing complete shut down in protest against the decision of Omar led Government to deny much deserved tehsil status to Budhal.
The people of the town and adjoining areas led by several Sarpanchs and Panchs besides local political leaders irrespective of party affiliation came out on the road at around 10 am and started protest. They were joined by many students. The shops were closed and the movement of vehicles was also stopped. Some youth also resorted to stone pelting on the vehicles who tried to ply them on the road during protest and bandh.
The people of the area alleged that most injustice has been done with the people of Budhal by the Omar led Government because many areas in the State which never deserved a tehsil or block status were accorded them same while Budhal which is nearly 60 kms away from Rajouri district headquarters and was Niabat since 1947 has been denied Tehsil or even Block status.
They pointed out that in 1965 Budhal was sanctioned Tehsil and functioned there up to 1978 but after some political conspiracy, it was shifted to Kotranka. The then people launched agitation but they were cool down by the political leadership and bureaucrats, with the assurance then Budhal will also be given the status. Even today Treasury documents in Kotranka mention Budhal as tehsil. People of the area had high hopes that Budhal will be accorded justice this time but people have been surprised and shocked as justice has not been done either by NC or Congress with the people. Claims of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and PCC president Saif-ud-Din Soz regarding justice accorded to all the regions and areas is totally wrong, they maintained.
Meanwhile, Additional DC Salim Malik and ASP Rajouri reached Budhal and asked the people to suspend agitation and assured that he would take up the issue at higher level. The people however, claimed that indefinite agitation would be continued till Budhal is accorded Tehsil status.

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