Top RSS, BJP leaders call on LG; discuss prevailing situation in UT

Sangh’s concern over attacks on minorities

Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Jan 12: In a follow up to BJP leaders recent meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on prevailing political as well as law & order situation in J&K, the senior leaders of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) called on Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha here at Raj Bhawan this afternoon and held a threadbare discussion over all the issues concerning the people of J&K with him.
The delegation was led by BJP national general secretary (Org), B L Santosh, RSS Seh Sarkarivah, Arun Kumar, its Prant Pracharak J&K, Rupesh Kumar, BJP JK UT president, Ravinder Raina, party general secretary (Org), Ashok Koul and party general secretary and former Minister, Sunil Sharma. They discussed prevailing situation in the UT with him during the meeting.
Prior to their meeting with LG, the RSS and BJP leaders held a meeting here at Keshaw Bhawan, Ambphalla. According to sources, the meeting was chaired by Arun Kumar and among others was attended by B L Santosh, Rupesh Kumar, Union Minister, Dr Jitendra Singh, BJP JKUT, president, Ravinder Raina, Ashok Koul, Parshotam Dadichi, president Sanatan Dharam Sabha (SDS) and Dr Vikrant.
Sources said the meeting discussed the prevailing political situation in the UT of J&K and the law and order situation in the wake of recent terrorist attacks and killing of members of minority community in Upper Dhangri as well as targeted killings in Kashmir valley.
Sources said that the meeting, while deliberating over the issues showed concern on the targeted killings and attacks on minorities especially recent killings in Upper Dhangri area of Rajouri district on January 1. It strongly advocated of crushing the subversive activities in the UT with iron hand and favoured the strengthening of Village Defence Committees (VDCs) to counter the militancy, sources said.
The meeting, made it clear that till Pakistan’s existence on this universe, the VDCs should remain a permanent feature in some sensitive parts of Jammu region to counter it’s (Pakistan’s) machinations and conspiracies to disturb the peace and create communal disturbances, sources said, adding the strengthening of VDCs will prove a deterrent against the infiltration from across the border and militant violence.
The Rajouri attack dominated the meeting and it was demanded that the Government should further strengthen the security grid and take all measures to frustrate the designs of enemy nation, sources said.
Sources said the package and reserved category employees issues also came for debate in the meeting and grave concern was shown over the problems faced by them after withholding of their salaries. The LG administration was urged to look into their issue on humanitarian basis. Besides, the Government was asked to take all security and safety measures for those minority community employees who are presently serving in Kashmir including package as well as reserved category employees.
Sources said the issues of Anganwadi workers and helpers, daily wagers, Rehbar-e-Janglat & Rehbar-e-Khel and other temporary employees also came up for discussion and it was decided that the Government will be asked to follow the procedure which was followed by earlier governments in their case.
Sources said the snatching of autonomy of Universities was also discussed in the meeting and it was opined that the UT Government’s policy in this regard is not in consonance with New Education policy of the Central Government which grants more autonomy to universities in the country. The present policy of J&K is in reverse to that, the meeting was informed, sources added.
The security of religious places and shrines in the UT especially Kashmir valley also came up for the discussion and Government was urged to take proper measures in this regard for their protection and preservation.
Sources said the issue of establishing new industry in the UT too came up for debate and concern was shown over delay in allotment of land for industry and hurdles being created in its way. It was decided that the Government will be asked to settle this issue immediately so that there is no delay in establishment of new industrial estates in J&K to generate employment for the youth and boost the economy of the UT.
The issues of the displaced people of Jammu region especially from erstwhile Doda district and upper reaches of Reasi district and Kashmir were also discussed in the meeting, sources said, and added it was suggested that the Government should frame a comprehensive police for their rehabilitation.
Sources said the Evacuees property issue was also raised in the meeting and concern was shown that how long this issue will hang in balance and Government should take a decision now once for all to settle this issue permanently.