Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 8: To press its demands the Shia Federation of Jammu region, held a massive demonstration and dharna outside Press Club here today.
Over 200 members of Shia community from various parts of Jammu province and also some from Kashmir joined the protest.
The protestors demanded restoration of Peer Mitha Police Station premises to the community, for its inclusion back into the Karbla Complex.
The President of the federation Ashiq Hussain Khan alleged that the premises where Peer Mitha Police Station, adjoining the Karbla Complex, has been constructed, originally belongs to the community and formed part of the Complex.
It was encroached upon and first police post was set up, by raising a tent there, later pacca building was constructed on the spot, for the police post, which since has been upgraded to a Police Station, he added.
Ashiq Hussain further said that the State Governments, right from the times of Dogra rulers to the popular Governments, has been allotting lands to the religious communities for their shrines etc, but in this case the land which belonged to the community from the very beginning and formed part of Karbla Complex, was encroached upon by the Government for setting up Police Station there.
The protestors further demanded setting up of Shia Community Advisory Board, on the pattern of Advisory Boards set up for Gujjars, Bakerwals, Pahari people, SC and ST Boards etc. stating that Shia community too has remained backward. The demonstrators also demanded political reservations in elected bodies, for the Shia community.
Ashiq Hussain said that the Shia community has over one lakh population in Jammu province. He demanded due representation to the community in State Legislature as well as in Government jobs etc.
He warned that in case their demands are not conceded by the Government soon, the Federation will be constrained to take the next drastic step of resorting to hunger strike in the first week of May.
The general secretary of the Federation Dr Iftikhar Husaain Jafri rued that due compensation has not been paid to the farmers, most of whom belong to Shia community, whose lands were acquired for construction of Baghaliar Hydel Project, nor the members of their families have been absorbed at jobs in the project, as was assured. He demanded jobs for the youth of the community whose land were acquired for the project.
Mr Jafri also alleged that under PMGSY many villages in Mendhar tehsil Poonch have not been provided road connectivity.
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