Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 11: Deputy Chief Minister, Tara Chand along with senior Cabinet Ministers called a meeting of civil society members, representatives of different political parties, social organizations, trade unions, Chamber of Commerce and prominent members of the society, here today.
Minister for Horticulture, Housing and Culture Raman Bhalla, Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control Sham Lal Sharma, Minister for Planning & Development, Labour and Employment Ajay Sadhotra and MoS, Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Ajaz Ahmad Khan were present during the meeting.
Divisional Commissioner, Shantmanu, IG, Jammu Rajesh Kumar attended the meeting.
Prominent among those who participated in the meeting include, MLC Davinder Singh Rana, president of Jammu Bar, President Chamber of Commerce and other prominent social activists.
The Divisional Commissioner briefed on the situation and detailed about the action taken on the points discussed in the previous civil society meeting.
He said DDC, Kishtwar has already started the process of assessment of damages to the property and videography has been completed. A total of 68 shops, 7 hotels and 35 vehicles have been damaged during the untoward incident and 3 causalities have been reported so far, he added.
Representatives of civil society presented their views and suggested measures to restore confidence and peace among the people. All those who spoke on the occasion stressed on restoring faith, peace in the society and called for bridging the trust deficit. They also demanded for taking steps to restore confidence in the society by organizing peace rallies and marches, holding justifiable enquiry and immediate compensation for those affected.
Responding to the suggestions and demands put forth by the civil society representatives, the Deputy Chief Minister said the concern shown is genuine and if all people come forward and join hands such situation would not last long and confidence and brotherhood would be restored in the society.
“Financial loss can be repaired but human loss is irreparable and all necessary steps would be taken to ensure restoration of peace and confidence among all sections of society,” he added.
He said the State’s economy is heavily dependant on tourism sector and such incidences adversely effect the backbone of economy, adding that mutual co-existence, state and national interest are of top most priority.
Mr. Tara Chand said the demands put forward by civil society with regard to ex- gratia relief to the next of kin of those who have died has already been agreed to and assessment process for damages has also begun. He said a time-bound inquiry under the Divisional Commissioner has been ordered and necessary administrative steps have been taken to restore faith of the people in the administration.
He said in a meeting chaired by the Chief Minister earlier during the day clear instructions have been issued to book under law all those who are found involved in any way in the Kishtwar incidence. All people who are culprit will be arrested and action under law taken against them, he added.
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