| BZA demands 'distt status to Billawer', takes out rally | | Resolves to go on mass hunger strike on Jan 4 | |
Early Times Report
BIllawer (Kathua), Dec 17: continuing its demand of district status for Billawer, a rally was taken out by the Billawar Zila Andolan (BZA) at Billawar Tehsil headquarter which started prom PWD Rest House and concluded at Tehsil ground. Protestors also resolved to observe one day 'mass hunger strike' on 4th January at Billawar tehsil Ground in the support of the Billawar district demand.
Led by its Convener advocate Hari Chand Jalmeria, the activists of the Billawar Zila Andolan amid slogans in support of the demand for creating Billawar District passed through main market of town. People including prominent persons, senior citizens, farmers, traders, Sarpanchs of the areas participated in this rally.
Speakers namely Hari Chand Jalmeria convener BZA, Durga Dass Upadhiaya, Bishan Dass Sharma, Ram Dhan, B.R. Upadhiaya, ML Verma, Jatinder Singh Bhadwal advocate Sarpanch (Dadwara), Jagdev Singh Sarpanch(Huttar), Akhtar Ali Sarpanch(Pallan), Beli Ram Sarpanch(Nazote), Master Ragunath Singh, Pt. Tek Chand Sapolia, Capt Hans Raj, Ashok Singh Jasrotia( president Kandi Ekta Manch)and others addressed the gathering at Tehsil Ground. The speakers expressed anguish over the neglect and discrimination meted out to the people of Billawar, Basohli and Bani in the field of development and not making this area a separate district.Hari Chand Jalmeria the Convener of the Billawar Zila Andolan in his address said that the Billawar area was ignored in 1978 when three districts were added in Kashmir valley and in 2006 when 8 more districts were further added in the state, four each in Kashmir and Jammu provinces without adopting any fair criteria.
He added that Kathua district has population of 6.15 lakh as per 2011 census (whereas Shopian has 2.65 lakh, Kulgam 4.23 lakh, Ganderbal 2.97 lakh, Samba 3.18 lakh, Reasi 3.14 lakh, Doda 4.09 lakh, Ramban 2.83 lakh, Kishatwar 2.31 lakh and Poonch 4.76 lakh), having much more population and the area, was ignored.
He said areas with much less population and area have been made districts for political reasons and the claim of Bllawar, Bani and Basohli having population of over three and half lacs and area of about 2000 sq kms has been ignored. Jalmeria asked the Govt. to declare Billawar District by March 2014 are else people will be forced to intensify their agitation.
The Rally also demanded of the Union and State Govts to make tunnel from near Bhini bridge and connect Billawar valley with Dehli- Jammu Highway.
The participants resolved to observe one day Mass Hunger Strike on Jan 4 at Billawar tehsil Ground in the support of the said demand. |
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