Cong, PDP, Apni Party, others join protest
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 12: Several families from Roopnagar in Jammu, supported by relatives and some political parties today blocked Janipur-Ban Talab Road and held strong protest against Jammu Development Authority (JDA) and district administration, describing their action to demolish structures and remove encroachment as unfair and unjustified.
The JDA in its action on Tuesday demolished about 17 structures and removed illegal encroachment on about 41 kanals of land. Most of this land, as per JDA, has been illegally encroached upon by Gujjar families besides some others.
Today, the families whose structures were razed by JDA machines during major operation on Tuesday, assembled by near Jaggi Darbar Chowk, on Janipur-Ban Talab Road and raised barricades. They blocked both the tubes of the road and started protest demonstration. They were raising loud slogans against JDA, District and LG’s Administration in J&K UT.
Later, they were joined by leaders of various political parties and their leaders including Mula Ram, Hari Singh Chib, Shah Mohd Choudhary and Uday Chib from Congress. Mula Ram, Shah Mohd and Hari Singh Chib also sat on dharna along with protesting families and addressed large gathering demanding action against JDA for its unfair and unjustified action. They alleged that these families were living there since long and had been rehabilitated by Government. They also demanded inquiry into the matter.
Several PDP leaders including Ex-MLC MR Qureshi, Sukhvinder Singh, Varinder Singh and others also joined protest at Jaggi Darbar Chowk and strongly criticized JDA for its action against ST families. They alleged that ST people were being targeted by BJP Government in J&K.
Senior Apni Party leaders Aijaz Khan, Ch Zulfikar Ali, Manjit Singh, Ch Saleem Alam and Danish Iqbal also strongly criticized the policies adopted by the Jammu Development Authority and said that its action against the ST families in Roopnagar was unfair and unjustified. They alleged that no notice was issued by the agency to them and their houses were dismantled and they were rendered shelterless during these harsh winter days. They demanded action against the JDA officials. They also demanded an inquiry into the whole episode. Peoples Conference leader, Abdul Gani Vakil also criticized JDA for action against some ST families in Jammu and alleged that minorities were being targeted.
All Tribal Coordination Committee held a protest at Poonch against JDA and demanded action against the officials involved in action. They also demanded probe into the matter.
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