Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 1: Dogra Sadar Sabha (DSS) and the All Jammu Civil Society Forum (AJCSF) has resolved to strongly oppose the cultural invasion by the PDP-BJP regime by imposing Kashmiri language on the Dogras.
In a joint emergent meeting of core groups of these organisations to discuss the crisis situation created by the J&K Government‘s order to impose Kashmiri language in the colleges of Jammu region, the members pledged to fight against the cultural invasion by the ruling political parties. They alleged that Jammu BJP leaders have totally surrendered the interests of Jammu people to the Kashmir based PDP for the sake of power and money.
The meeting was held under the chairmanship of DSS president and former minister Gulchain Singh Charak.
Calling it a divisive creation of some mischievous minds working behind the scene, the members denounced it out-rightly, calling it unacceptable. “To destroy and eliminate any race, one has to obliterate its heritage, kill its culture and vanish its linguistic identity; which bind a race” said Charak, adding that all this has been tried on the Dogras of Jammu region.
Elaborating further, he presented examples of the Dogra Heritage complex reduced to ruins, The Dogra festival mutilated and observed sans Dogra art and culture while this is the final ‘deathly blow’ by imposing Kashmiri language.
Ex-MLC Maj Gen Goverdhan Singh Jamwal called it a conspiracy to create a rift between the Kashmiri migrants and local Dogras which will widen the gaps and may create unrest. He denounced the creation of 49 jobs of Kashmiri lecturers which can go to Kashmiris only.
Col (Dr) Virendra Sahi, pointed out that there are only 20 % Kashmiri speaking population in the J&K State, while others speak Dogri, Pahari or Gojri dialects of it on either side of the LoC. There is a case to teach Dogri in Kashmir as a choice with the official language Urdu. He called the ‘Draconian Order’ as an onslaught on the very existence of Dogras as an act of vendetta against the founders and erstwhile rulers of the J&K.
G A Khawaja, former Dy Commissioner and Prof Anita Billowria of Jammu University informed that the great resentment is simmering among the students of colleges and University of Jammu against such a dangerous step taken by the Government, which can be proved disastrous for the whole State already reeling under many threats.
Brig MS Jamwal, Rajesh Gupta, Annil Suri, Yash Paul Gupta, S. Peter, Sayed Amanat Ali Shah and Col Karan Singh also spoke on the occasion and appealed to all the political, social activists, intellectuals, traders and students to join hands for a decisive struggle.
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