Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 22: The Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) today gave 72-hour ultimatum to the State Government to address the demand of the people from Nowshera, Kalakote and Sunderbani or face the consequences as entire Jammu region will be involved in the agitation while many Sikh bodies under the leadership of Mahant Manjit Singh of Dera Nagali Sahib, Poonch today declared to offer Langar and medical facilities to the people from these towns as they will march towards Jammu for seeking district status and ADCs for their respective areas.
As indefinite bandh and dharna at Nowshera entered 35th day today, many organizations including Jammu Chamber, Sikh United Front, DGPC Rajouri have accorded their massive support for the agitation. Some political parties have already accorded support but the people from these areas, irrespective of their party affiliations, are carrying on agitation under the banner of Joint Action Committee (JAC). They have turned against their own area representatives, BJP Ministers and PDP-BJP Coalition Government. They alleged that school- colleges are almost closed. Offices and banks have turned non-functional but the Government is sleeping like ‘Kumbhkarna’. It is not bothered about the miseries of the people and the public representatives have turned insensitive.
Joint Action Committee members at Nowshera including Beopar Mandal, Bar Association, Sanatan Dharam Sabha members led by Subhash Kapoor (president Beopar Mandal), Ravikant and others took out strong protest rally in the town during the day. Students of local Govt Degree College and Higher Secondary Schools also joined the protest rally. They were shouting slogans in support of their demand and also against DC Rajouri, Chief Minister and BJP Ministers and local legislators.
Today, the Jammu Chamber team led by its president , Rakesh Gupta and secretary general Manish Gupta visited Nowshera town and held meeting with the JAC members. They also took stock of the situation prevailing there and condemned the attitude of the Government, local representatives and District Administration. They alleged that public is suffering badly for the last 35 days and the Government was still mute spectator and incapable to take any decision. They demanded that Nowshera be accorded district status and ADC be placed there immediately as first step. The ADCs also be given to Kalakote and Sunderbani.
The JCCI gave 73-hour ultimatum to State Govt, failing which the Jammu Chamber would join the agitation involving all the trade, transport and other bodies across the region.
Meanwhile, Kalakote town also continued indefinite bandh on 20th day today, seeking separate ADC’s posting there. Entire market remained closed in the town and the vehicles also remained off the road. The Government offices also remained closed. The Kalakote JAC involving all the bodies took out a protest march and later staged dharna at Bus Stand. They have rejected the Govt formula of rotational ADCs for Kotranka and Kalakote. They said they will take their agitation to the logical conclusion.
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