Employees’
organisations support Sangarsh Samiti
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Aug 3: Various
employees’ organisations have extended
support to the Sangarsh Samiti for the ongoing
agitation over SASB land issue and resolved to
observe mass casual leave on August 4.
Public Health
Engineering Employees Welfare Association in a
meeting held here today under the chairmanship of
Balwinder Singh, provincial president, strongly
condemned the State Administration for its total
failure to control the situation. While
supporting the cause of Jammu people, the PHEEWA
members decided to observe the mass casual leave
on Monday. They also appealed the people to
maintain communal harmony and brotherhood.
Provincial
Teachers Association (Jammu), in a meeting held
here today under the chairmanship of Balwan Singh
discussed the issue related to mishandling of the
situation by Governor N N Vohra over SASB land
issue. Association members expressed their
solidarity with the on going movement of Jammu
people and resolved to go on mass casual leave on
Monday. They, at the same time also condemned the
Governor’s action by imposing restrictions
on media.
All J&K
Agriculture Employees Association (Jammu
Division), has also extended full support to the
ongoing agitation of Shri Amarnath Sangarsh
Samiti. It was resolved in a meeting of the
Association that all the Agriculture employees
would observe mass casual leave on Monday in
support of the cause.
Teachers
Association, SKUAST Jammu, has also extended full
support to the Sangarsh Samiti for the cause of
Jammu people. In a press statement, the
association members headed by Dr Narinder Singh
president, resolved to observe mass casual leave
on August 4. They also condemned the brutalities
of State administration on the people of Jammu.
PK seeks
President’s intervention
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Aug 3:
Expressing serious concern over the oppressive
and suppressive measures taken by State
Government to crush the ongoing movement launched
by Sangarsh Samiti Jammu for restoration of Land
to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), Panun
Kashmir (PK) has sought the immediate
intervention of the President of India.
In a letter to
President of India, Dr Agnishekhar, convenor
Panun Kashmir said present movement in Jammu has
its genesis in the injustice that was meted out
to the people of Jammu region and Kashmiri
Pandits by revocation of land allotment order to
Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB).
This order prima
facie lacked credibility and smacked of a
conspiracy to appease a certain section of
Kashmiri based politicians and separatists, he
added.
He said the
situation arising out of this unconstitutional
move by the newly appointed Governor, N N Vohra
was grossly mishandled at the cost of the
religious sentiments and interests of the
nationalist people of Jammu in particular and
crores of Hindus in general. The people’s
peaceful resistance and protest as a result of
this move was subjected to brutalities unheard of
in independent India.
J&K police was
used as an instrument to terrorize people. The
police entered the homes of innocent people and
subjected them to brutalities and indignities as
if they were aliens or anti-nationals, he added.
He said such
draconian measures and suppression of the will of
the people resulted in more and more outpouring
of their hurt sentiments. Unprovoked firing on
peaceful protesters and curfew clamped frequently
for days together unlike Kashmir where mobs were
given a free run for seven long days to give vent
to their anti India sentiments so much so that
even Pakistani flags were uninterruptedly allowed
to hoist in Lal Chowk Srinagar amid anti India
and communal sloganeering has hurt the sentiments
of peace loving people of India, he added.
He said the
political parties like PDP, NC and Congress added
fuel to fire by adopting Kashmiri centric and
communal stance. Moreover the role of Governor, N
N Vohra added acid to injury by inviting NC
leader Dr Farooq Abdullah and PDP supremo,
Mehbooba Mufti for a meeting at Jammu.
Governor
reviews movement of supplies to Valley
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR
Aug 3:
Movement of fruit ladden trucks from Kashmir to
different markets in the country and of various
essential commodities to the Valley has gained
further momentum with the National Highway from
Srinagar to Lakhanpur being fully sanitized by
the security forces.
Governor, N N
Vohra, has been personally monitoring the
movement of supplies to the Kashmir valley and
the overall situation in Jammu region. He has
given strict instructions to the Administration
to ensure uninterrupted flow of supplies across
the Banihal. He has also reiterated his appeal to
the people of Jammu to maintain calm.
Mr Vohra was
informed late last night that the National
Highway had been fully restored from Banihal to
Lakhanpur.
The Governor was
informed that all the 400 Jammu bound trucks were
cleared yesterday for their onward movement to
respective destinations while 126 fruit laden
trucks and 45 empty tankers and mercantile trucks
left the Valley for Jammu this morning. Further,
122 trucks carrying essential commodities moved
this morning from Jammu to Srinagar. These
included 64 oil tankers. Another 52 oil tankers
are moving to Srinagar today.
Reports submitted
to the Governor today furnished the details of
the fruit laden trucks which had crossed
Lakhanpur and of the movement of essential
commodities to the Valley during the past three
days. As many as 178 fruit trucks, 230 Light
Motor Vehicles and 300 empty trucks crossed
Lakhanpur on August 1 while 148 trucks carrying
rice, cement, coal and other commodities and 22
tankers carrying petrol, diesel and kerosene oil
reached Srinagar. Also, 130 fruit trucks crossed
Lakhanpur while 165 trucks carrying different
essentials reached the Valley yesterday.
The Fruit Growers
Association had urged the State Government to
ensure the safe movement of 400-500 trucks
stranded at various points on the Highway, which
has been fully secured and the land slides due to
incessant rains at Dhar Road have been removed.
As per the Governor’s directions, the
Administration is monitoring, round-the-clock,
movement of supplies and fruit laden trucks. The
Fruit Growers have been asked to line up all
fruit trucks at Lower Munda for being dispatched
in a convoy to Lakhanpur.
Meanwhile, Mr
Vohra has directed for speeding up Sales Tax
processing at Lakhanpur to ensure against delays
and piling up of vehicles on this account.
Charak
offers support to Samiti
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Aug 3:
Former Congress Minister and Dogra Sadar Sabha
leader Gulchain Singh Charak has also offered
support to the ‘Sangarsh Samiti’ for
the ongoing agitation of Jammu people over SASB
land issue.
In a surprising
move, the former Higher Education Minister in the
Ghulam Nabi Azad Government, announced his
decision in a meeting of the Dogra Sadar Sabha
held here today. While chairing the meeting, Mr
Charak said, " the people of Jammu have been
agitating for the last one month highlighting
their sentiments on the decision of the
Government. There was immediate need to resolve
the crisis and find a honourable solution jointly
by all."
Mr Charak
regretted the provocative speeches of some
Kashmiri leaders posing great victory and their
version that they are sole proprietors of the
land of Kashmir. He warned them to desist from
such remarks and not to invite unnecessarily
people’s wrath.
In the meeting DSS
leaders passed a resolution extending support to
Sangarsh Samiti and impressed upon the State
administration to work out modalities at the
earliest to meet the aspirations of the people to
maintain communal harmony and peace. He said
Dogras have sacrificed their lives for the cause
of Kashmir but now the anti-national and
anti-Jammu outbursts of some Kashmiri leaders
have compelled the nationalistic people of
‘Duggar Pradesh’ to come out breaking
all the barriers and not to tolerate any more
high-handedness and domination of such forces.
The Sabha appealed
leaders of different political parties and
members of ‘Sangarsh Samiti’ to sit
together and work out a strategy to find the way
out of honouring the resentments of the public of
this region who have come on the roads. Sabha
leaders also urged the Administration not to take
suppressive measures on public and freedom of
press.
Ban on
TV channels, attack on media-men
widely condemned
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Aug 3: The
ban imposed on the local TV channels—JK and
Take 1, has drawn flaks from all quarters of the
society as different organizations have condemned
this act of administration.
Sangarsh Samiti
strongly condemned the curbs on media and termed
it an attack on freedom of press. The Samiti
convenor, Leela Karan Sharma while taking the
serious exception to Government’s action
said present situation in Jammu is akin to
undeclared emergency.
He termed the
curbs on freedom of press a desperation on the
part of Government and urged the Government to
mend its ways failing which the situation will be
totally out of control.
Bar Association
Jammu also condemned the attack on the freedom of
press by prohibiting the telecast of JK Channel
and Take-1 and lobbying of teargas shells on
media-persons at Digiana.
Former union
minister and senior BJP leader Prof Chaman Lal
Gupta has also condemned the ban on local TV
channels and expressed serious concern over the
attack on fourth estate.
BJP spokesperson
and State vice-president Hari Om criticised
Governor N N Vohra for onslaught on media in
Jammu. "Curbing the media freedom is another
attempt on Governor’s part to crush
patriotism and objective and fearless media to
make separatist elements in Kashmir smile",
he said, adding "this is worst form of
emergency and murder of democracy".
He said that the
administration on the directions of Governor also
didn’t allow the party to hold press
conference.
Young Panthers
president and former MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia
termed the Government’s move as blackest day
of democratic history of India. He said that
Government decision to first restrict the
movement of mediapersons has exposed deep rooted
conspiracy against the freedom of expression and
democratic values especially in Jammu region.
All India Lawyers
Union (AILU) has strongly condemned the ban on
local TV channels and attack on media persons. In
a statement issued, Advocates M M Baru (AILU
President) and H C Jalmeria (Gen Secretary) have
said that imposition of indefinite curfew and
gagging of media was no solution to the problem.
They, however, suggested Government to address
the basic issue and find negotiated solution.
Journalists Guild
(Jammu) has strongly condemned the ban on media
and termed it as an attack over the ‘Freedom
of Press’. In a statement issued, Devender
Padha, President, has called for the immediate
revocation of the ban order and suggested
Governor to address the basic issue instead of
indulging in such anti-people acts.
In a statement
issued, former MLA Gandhi Nagar Raman Bhalla has
strongly condemned the ban on media and attack on
media persons by the State Administration to
weaken the voice of masses. He demanded immediate
revocation of the ban order and asked the
Governor to understand the popular sentiments
instead of crushing them.
Rajesh Bhat,
Convenor, Progressive Youth Front, in a statement
issued today, strongly condemned the ban imposed
over media and attack on media persons here. He,
however, demanded immediate revocation of ban
order and asked the Governor to respect the
popular sentiments of Jammuites.
Dr K Krishna,
founder President and spiritual head of Spiritual
Awareness Society (India), while condemning the
ban on media, said that it will lead to further
destruction and damage to the position of State
Administration. He added that the Administration
would not be able to curb the ongoing agitation
with such measures.
J&K Minority
Forum held an emergency meeting under the
presidentship of Ravinder Kaul wherein the
imposition of ban on local TV channels was
strongly condemned by the members. The Forum,
however, demanded the removal of Governor and
restoration of land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board
(SASB) for establishment of peace here.
National
Conference has also taken strong exception to the
ban on electronic media especially Jammu based
channels. In a joint statement issued, the NC
leaders said that NC is committed to the
‘Freedom of Press’ and any action to
curb this freedom is highly condemnable.
Jammu and Kashmir
Milchar Front also held a meeting under the
chairmanship of S N Saproo, president, and
condemned the ban imposed on media and attack on
media persons. It was said in the meeting that
Government can’t suppress the popular
movement by such restrictions.
Kashmiri Pandit
Sabha has also condemned the ban on media and
attack on mediapersons. In a meeting of the
Sabha, the members expressed that such measures
will not only produce counter productive but have
larger ramifications.
Jammu University
Research Scholars Executive Association (JURSEA)
also condemned the high handedness of State
Administration by imposing ban on media. Vikas
Sharma, president, in a statement issued,
categorically asked the Governor to lift the ban
with immediate effect to avoid further damages to
civil liberty.
All J&K Rattan
Bhardwaj Biradari Samiti, Akhnoor today held a
meeting under the chairmanship of K K Sharma,
president, wherein serious concern was expressed
over the ban imposed on media and attack on media
persons. However, the Samiti extended its full
support to Shri Amarnath Sangarsh Samiti.
Panthers Student
Union (PSU) also expressed grave concern over the
ban on media and attack on media persons. In a
statement issued, Suresh Kumar, general
secretary, has asked the State Administration to
restrain from such tendencies.
Taking strong
exception to sealing of local channels and attack
on the media-persons, All Jammu Print Electronic
Press Cameramen Association said that
administration cannot dictate terms to media
fraternity in performing their professional
duties.
Kashmiri Pandit
Sabha (KSB) president, Prof. A N Sadhu, senior
vice president and member Sangarsh Samiti K K
Khosa and general secretary, H N Tickoo have also
strongly condemned the attack on media and termed
it high-handedness of the Government.
In a joint
statement the Sabha leaders warned that such
action on the part of Government will have
serious repercussions. The statement said those
who tried to crush the popular movements in the
world by force had to face defeat at last.
Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) state president, Ashok Khajuria who
is undergoing treatment in GMC has also condemned
the attack on media. Terming the situation very
grave in Jammu, he said this reminds one of the
worst days of emergency.
Vishaw Hindu
Parishad (VHP) J&K unit while expressing
serious concern over the reign of terror let
loose by Government in Jammu region has demanded
immediate recall of Governor, N N Vohra.
The state
president of the organization Dr Rama Kant Dubey
in an appeal to President of India has sought her
immediate intervention. He said the Government
has imposed undeclared emergency in Jammu and it
has curbed the activities of media to please the
Muslim separatists of Kashmir.
Jammu and Kashmir
Vichar Manch (JKVM), president Ashok Kangan has
also lambasted the Government for curbing the
democratic rights of the people of Jammu. In a
statement issued here today he said the
separatists and anti-national elements like Syed
Ali Shah Geelani, Yasin Malik and Moulvi Omar
Farooq are given the treatment of VIPs while the
patriotic people of Jammu are subjected to
firing, lathicharge and teargassing.
Prof J K Muju,
Editor Sehyogi Times has also strongly condemned
the curbs on the activities of media and termed
it a high-handedness on the part of Government.
Vir Ji Saraf,
convenor J&K RIK has also condemned the
attack on media persons in Jammu and curbs on
freedom of press. He warned that such actions
will have serious consequences.
AMCCC Mishriwala
leaders Desh Rattan, Vir Ji Bilove, Raj Nath Dhar
and P L Raina have also condemned the attack on
media persons. In a statement here today they
said this way Government can’t suppress the
voice of people who are fighting for restoration
of land to SASB.
Meanwhile the
Roots In Kashmir an organization of Kashmiri
Pandits has strongly condemned the
Government’s action on the non-violent
protesters in Jammu. The Government also came in
for strong criticism for their manhandling of
media persons and attacking them with tear gas
shells in Jammu.
It said the rough
treatment meted out to protesters in Jammu
clearly shows the pro-Kashmir bias of the
Governor. While the protesters in Kashmir were
allowed to go scot free for over eight days, the
people in Jammu were subjected to police
barbarism.
Athwas an
organization of displaced artists has also
strongly condemned the attack on mediapersons. In
a statement issued here today Mr Bihari Kak its
president and Ravi Kachroo general secretary
blamed Government for present situation in Jammu.
Jammu and Kashmir
National Democratic Front (JKNDF) leaders R K
Sehgal and Vijay Chiken have also strongly
condemned the attack on mediapersons in Jammu and
warned that such action will have serious
consequences.
All Displaced
Kashmiri Employees Forum chief M K Tickoo also
condemned the attack on media-persons and blamed
Government for the present situation in Jammmu.
BSP
leaders conduct 4-days tour
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Aug 3:
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) State vice president, T
D Langeh has conducted a four-day tour of Doda,
Kishtwar and Ramban districts during which he
held series of meetings with the local party
leaders and aspiring candidates for forthcoming
Assembly elections.
During the tour he
was accompanied by Rakesh Wazir, State general
secretary. After consultation with local
leadership the leaders finalized the list of
candidates from Kishtwar, Inderwal and Ramban and
asked them to gear for the elections.
Both the leaders
observed that the district headquarters of
Kishtwar was facing acute water shortage and
people were facing hardships for fetching water.
Meanwhile, they asked the authorities at Doda to
hold an enquiry into Rozgar Guarantee Scheme, as
they alleged that it was merely on record and not
on ground.
Among those who
attended meetings included Mushtaq Sheikh, Anwar
Choudhary, Des Raj, Puran, Capt (Retd) Dewan
Chand and Krishan Lal and others.
HM
militant surrenders
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Aug 3: A
top ranking militant of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM)
outfit today surrendered before the Army and
Police in village Banj Bhim Dessa under the
jurisdiction of Gool Police Station in the wee
hours of today.
An official
spokesman said that on the intervening night of
August 2 and 3, Army and Police launched a joint
search operation in the Banj Bhim Dessa village
to track down the hiding militants.
During the
operation, HM’s operational commander Abdul
Rashid, son of Haji Mohd Ramzan Chandel of Gool
laid down arms before the security forces.
From his
possession, the security forces recovered one AK
rifle with 60 AK rounds, three magazines and two
grenades. The surrender of operational commander
has given a big blow to the outfit in Ramban
district, the spokesman said.
Satwant
for maintaining communal harmony
Excelsior Correspondent
SAMBA,
Aug 3:
Satwant Kaur Dogra, a prominent leader from Samba
and member of Sangharsh Samiti, today addressed a
series of meetings in the border villages of
Samba.
Addressing the
gatherings at Rahian and Sadoh villages, she said
that Government was trying to sabotage the
present agitation by giving it a communal color
and appealed the people to maintain communal
harmony.
While condemning
the indiscriminate firing by police on peacefully
agitating people, she said people of Samba are
peace loving and peaceful agitation is their
fundamental and democratic right.
She condemned the
Governor for adopting highly repressive approach
by handing over Samba and Jammu districts to Army
and issuing shoot at sight orders and demanded
his immediate removal.
She also condemned
and deplored the insensibilities and indifference
shown by NC patron Dr Farooq Abdullah and PDP
chief Mehbooba Mufti towards the agitation of
Jammuites during the all party meet convened by
Governor.
PCC
assails Kashmiri leaders’ outburst
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Aug 3:
Lashing out at some Kashmiri based organisations
and political parties which are issuing
provocative statements aimed at communal
polarization for their vested interests, J&K
Pradesh Congress Committee has asked them to come
out of their parochial approach to help resolve
the ongoing controversy respecting the religious
sentiments of the people of Jammu region in order
to maintain broader unity, integrity and
composite culture and character of the State.
Reacting to the
deliberate provocations not only from separatist
quarters but also from the leadership of some
mainstream parties of Kashmir claiming to be
champions of peace and unity of the state, PCC
has asked these leaders to realise the emerging
scenario in Jammu region and adopt a realistic
approach to help resolve the issue amicably, in
larger interest of the people.
"It is the
time when all the right thinking forces in
Kashmir must keep aside all other considerations
and view the issue in broader perspective,
keeping in mind the diverse culture and
composition of the state and the religious
character of the ongoing unrest. The issue needs
to be understood and appreciated in its proper
perspective without prejudices - regional or
communal and needs to be addressed," the PCC
spokesman said.
The PCC also
expressed deep concern over the decision of
Administration to impose ban on some media
channels and termed it as unfortunate.
BVP
pledges support to Samiti
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU,
Aug 3:
Bharat Vikas Parishad (BVP) Trikuta Nagar today
held its executive body meeting wherein all its
members unanimously decided to support the
ongoing agitation led by Shri Amarnath Sangarsh
Samiti (SASS).
B B Sawhney,
president, who presided over the meeting, asked
all the political parties to rise above the party
politics and help in maintaining communal harmony
in the larger national interest.
Meanwhile, those
who attended the meeting were Rattan Kapoor, T C
Tagger, S K Sawhney, P C Sharma, K D Sharma,
Mridula Sharma, Er Yash Puri, Rama Sawhney, Urmil
Verma and others.
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