Early Times Report Jammu, July 26: Agitated by the blatant disregard of Jammu region in the wake of prevailing crisis in the State, Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party (JKNPP) today staged a massive protest demonstration against the Union government for turning blind eye to the aspirations of the Dogras. While addressing the gathering, Harsh Dev Singh said that the people of Jammu Pradesh were hard core nationalists and the integration of J&K State with the Union of India was only possible due to the supreme sacrifices of the Dogras. He said that the Union government had overtly ignored Jammu region in the dialogue process in respect to the prevailing crisis in the State. Expressing resentment over the recent two days visit of Union Home Minister to Kashmir, Singh said that the Home Minister should have spared a day to interact with the representatives of Jammu based political parties, social organizations and civil society for addressing their grievances as Jammu region had been equally affected by the ongoing turbulence. He said that the successive Union governments had lured the Jammu electorate for political gains and subsequently indulged in satisfying the needs and wants of the people of Kashmir by betraying the aspirations of the people of Jammu region. Meanwhile, Balwant Singh Mankotia said that much hyped Mubarak Mandi and Patnitop Cable Car projects had failed to see the light of the day. Moreover, the beautification of Jammu, artificial lake in Jammu had become distant dreams which otherwise were promised to the people during the election campaigns by the Saffron party. He lamented that the unemployed youth of Jammu had been protesting and languishing in open for their genuine demands besides PHE/PDD daily wagers, contractual / adhoc employees of various govt. departments, NYC volunteers, SPO's , Academic Arrangements engaged in government. schools, colleges and polytechnics, ReT teachers, lower rung employees including Asha/ NRHM workers, Safai karamcharies, etc were awaiting their regularization of services and release of long pending wages and salaries. Prominent among those who led the protest included Rajesh Padgotra, Shankar Singh Chib, Gagan Pratap, Adv. Vilakshan Singh, Shyam Gorkha, Rajesh Gondhi, Khajur Singh, Kewal Krishan Sharma and others. |