| AJCSF appeal to safeguard Jammu's culture, identity | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 18: All Jammu Civil Society Forum (AJCSF) has appealed the government to safeguard the Jammu's Dogra culture and identity, following the abrogation of Article 370.
All members present at Dogra Bhawan condemned the house arrest of Thakur Gulchain Singh Charak. The proposed meeting of the Society was to endorse and appreciate the bold action by the GoI of abrogation of Article 370/35A.
They were to peacefully deliberate on checks and measures for retaining identity of Dogras of all communities and development of this Jammu Dogra region that faced discrimination on all fronts and suffered in social and material developments and aspired to be one with the nation. They wanted to present their proposals to the J&K UT government and the GoI for consideration and necessary incorporation in future plans.
Members called the act of house arrest as "politically motivated and /or result of a sense of insecurity among some local politicians who have failed to look after the interests of the Jammu Dogra region". However, the meeting discussed the pre-fixed agenda and made their resolutions undeterred.
They resolved that there have to be measures to safe guard the identity and interests as Dogras of all communities and demand provisions like Articles 371/372 with some changes that are protecting identity of Himachal Pradesh and the Eastern States. The distribution of academic seats, opportunities and jobs should be in an 80: 20 ratio favouring locals.
Jammu has suffered a lot politically, culturally, heritage wise and is facing identity crises. Jammu festival like event has lost its shine and heritage monuments are in shambles. The great summit meeting also resolved that no election should be held without proper delimitation and fair population/area based share of power to Jammu region.
The summit meet unanimously resolved to propose Statehood for Jammu and merger of POJK and granting all 24 assembly constituencies to the proposed state of Jammu with Kashmir and Ladakh as UTs. The elections to be held only after delimitation, rotation of reserved seats, SC/ST voter rights of Valmikis and West Pakistan refugees.
Alternatively, they further resolved that the Jammu and Kashmir to have two separate Autonomous Councils with separate secretariats in respective capitals in existing buildings to operate simultaneously round the year. All allocations of financial, educational, jobs and development opportunities be made separately.
Prominent among those who addressed the meeting were Anil Suri Ex.President Bari Brahmana Industries, Col. Vir Sahi, Neeraj Anand Chairman Chamber of Traders Federation, Zorawar Singh Gen.Secy. Press Club Jammu & Chairman Team Jammu, T.S.Reenb Ex.Chairman Federation of Industries, Rajesh Padgotra Provincial President Panthers Party, G.A.Khwaja Gen. Secy. DSS, Gambhir Dev Singh and others.
Prominent organizations that were represented in the meeting included Gen. GS Jamwal Chairman Ex Services League, Ch.Manmohan Singh Ex. Mayor Jammu & President Jaat Mahasabha, K.B.Jandial, OP Gupta Gen. Secy. Mahajan Sabha, Rameshwar Manhas President Jammu Pvt. Schools Coordination Committee, Raghbir Chander Gupta Gen.Secy. Traders Federation, Amanat Ali Shah, S Kulbir Singh, S Hakumat Singh, Kailash Langer, Rakesh Charak(Raka), Dr OP Saini, Advocate Ishant Gupta, Rajinder Mehta, Khajoor Singh Jt. Secy. JKNPP and other prominent members drawn from civil society, various political, social, religious and trade organisations. |
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