Excelsior Correspondent
—Excelsior/Bhat
RAJOURI, Feb 4: While indefinite protest dharna of the people demanding tehsil status to Budhal entered third consecutive day today, some of the people have gone on `fast unto death’ strike at the venue.
The condition of a local social activist Manzoor Ahmed Malik deteriorated this afternoon but he refused to get medical treatment, or move to local hospital.
Later, with the intervention of SHO Budhal and officials from local administration he was provided drip (glucose) at the venue. The doctor also examined him and checked his blood pressure.
Another prominent person and noted social activist Farooq Inqilabi has also gone on hunger strike. At least five people are presently sitting on fast onto death. Budhal people including several Sarpanchs and Panchs and political activists have given an ultimatum to Government up to February 10 to sanction Tehsil status to Budhal, failing which, they will move to Rajouri and launch fast unto death outside the office of Deputy Commissioner. And if needed, they will move to Jammu and launch indefinite `hunger strike’ outside Chief Minister’s residence.
Reports said that all the people of the area irrespective of their party affiliations have joined hands together and have gone on strike. The attempts of Additional DC and ASP Rajouri to hold dialogue with people during their visit to Budhal on Feb 2 and 3, remained unfruitful as the people have only one point programme, ` do or die’. They have refused to go for any compromise unless justice is provided to Budhal which was already a tehsil and withdrawn and shifted to Kotranka after a political conspiracy in 1978.
Budhal town also observed bandh and educational institutions remained closed. A large number of people also held protest march in the main market and then moved to the venue of dharna. There is strong resentment among the people as the Government has denied much deserved tehsil status to Budhal. The locals have been joined by many students of the area. The shops were closed and the movement of vehicles was also suspended.
The people of the area alleged that most injustice has been done with the Budhal by the Omar led Government because many areas in the State which never deserved a tehsil or block status, were accorded the same while Budhal which is nearly 60 kms away from Rajouri district headquarters and was Niabat since 1947 has been denied Tehsil or even Block status.
They pointed out that in 1965 Budhal was sanctioned Tehsil and functioned there up to 1978 but after some political conspiracy, it was shifted to Kotranka. The then people had launched agitation but they were cooled down by the political leadership and bureaucrats, with the assurance that Budhal will also be given the tehsil status. People of the area had high hopes that Budhal will be accorded justice this time but they have been surprised and shocked over the decision.
Mr Inqilabi alleged that claims of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and PCC president Saif-ud-Din Soz regarding justice accorded to all the regions and areas, is totally wrong. Infact, the people of Budhal have become victims of political conspiracy and biased attitude of Omar led Government.
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