Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 22: Department of Strategic and Regional Studies (DSRS), University of Jammu, in collaboration with Jammu Kashmir Study Centre (JKSC) today organized a public lecture on “Gilgit-Baltistan: From Great Game to Great Uprising” to commemorate Sankalp Diwas.
The special lecture started with paying tribute to the Bharat Mata by the chief guest, Dr Gautam Mengi, Patron of the JKSC, Director DSRS, Prof Virender Koundal, Col (Retd) Ajay K Raina (SM), and other dignitaries.
In his presentation, Col (Retd.) Ajay K Raina, highlighted the significance of the Gilgit-Baltistan from the historical to the contemporary period and dwelt in detail on the Great Game between the British Empire and the Russian Empire from 1830s to 1907.
Col Raina stressed that the area of PoJK and Gilgit-Baltistan, which are still illegally occupied by Pakistan despite the UN Resolution, need to be vacated and freed so that residents of that area, who are suffering oppression at the hands a of the Pakistan army for the past 76 years, get justice as proud citizens of India.
Col Raina also argued that the people of Gilgit-Baltistan are facing various types of political, economic and religious discrimination and suppression at the hands of Pakistan authorities. He said China has established high stakes in the region because of its huge economic and strategic investment in Pakistan in the form of the CPEC, which is also a cause of concern for the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and they are now turning against the Chinese. He also suggested that India must give moral and material support to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and play a proactive role to attain its political objectives.
Director DSRS Prof Virender Koundal concluded the event with remarks aligning with the Parliament Resolution of 1994.
The special lecture was attended by Er Sahil Sharma, member JKSC, Adv Harshvardan Gupta, Secretary JKSC and DSRS faculty members Dr Mohd. Monir Alam, Dr Suneel Kumar, Dr Surinder Mohan, Dr Ganesh Malhotra, and Dr Ranjan Sharma. Dr Ganesh Malhotra conducted proceedings and delivered vote of thanks.
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