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| Protests on, spirit hardens | | 25,000 people join rally in Kathua, Samiti gets massive support to keeping agitation alive | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | July 31
Largely affable rallies, protests and demonstrations marked the ninth day of second phase of agitation as the public sentiment further consolidated in favour of restoration of controversial land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board.
While in Jammu City protestors in thousands poured over roads in different areas and burnt the effigies of government and several political leaders the largest rally was held in Kathua. At least 25,000 people reportedly joined a massive protest rally in Kathua where people said that they will not settle down any thing except restoration of land.
With every passing day the protests, instead of ebbing, have been spiraling to the smaller townships and rural areas of Jammu region. People in all big and small towns continued protests for ninth consecutive day today while protest rallies were taken in different areas of the Jammu and its adjoining areas today raising slogans against government.
The protest rallies, torch procession were even seen late in the evening and in old city clashes between police and protesters was reported. Protesters tried to set PDD office on fire but were foiled by the timely action of Police.
Protest rallies were organized by Simiti members at Kathua, samba, Udhampur and Reasi but no untoward incident was reported so far. Protesters late last night damaged a Kashmir owned truck on Jammu Pathankot road while two other trucks including petrol tanker was set on fire.
Police and civil authorities today visited these areas and assure full security along the Highway from Lakhanpur to Patnitop so as to ensure that no harm is done to the Kashmir bound vehicles.
A massive support for the agitation is gathering from all sides as people and their leaders are asking the Samiti to take agitation to a logical conclusion. The BJP leader,Dr Nirmal Singh,today said that the only contentious issue was revocation of the land diversion order. Hence "our main demand for restoring land to the Shrine Board cannot be either given up or diluted."
Shiv Sena( Bal Thackery) leader Ashok Gupta has lambasted the state agencies for having let loose reign of terror against the Samiti activists and leaders. He said over 650 cases had been registered against these activists and many among them had been arrested. He said against this no action had been initated against those in Kashmir who indlged in violence and hoisted Pakistani flags and shouted anti-India slogans while protesting against diversion of land to the Board. He is this is also an instance of regional discrimination.
Dr Nirmal Singh made an oblique reference to some congress leaders whom he said were trying into infiltrate into the Samiti circles with the sole aim of sowing seeds of dissensions. He warned elements trying to weaken the Samiti and said "any one found doing it will be punished by people who have launched the agitation."
However, former Congress MLA, Raman Bhalla, has defended the role of the Congress and the former Chief Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad. He said Azad lost no time when the former Governor S.K.Sinha sought land for the Board for setting up prefabricated tents. He said the Azad led Government revoked the order when the new Governor, N.N.Vohra, wrote the former Chief Minister that the Board did not require the land.
Jammu Muslims in a statement issued here today cautioned people not to fall in hands of elements with criminal intentions and maintain peace and communal harmony. They said that the community has already extended its support to the Simiti, so there is no question of attacking Muslim properties in Jammu region.
PDD department remained worst victim of the protests as all electronic meters installed out side the shops and houses in Jammu city and outskirts were completely damaged. PDD authorities maintained that the department is accessing the loss and will report to the government.
Meanwhile some protesters have reportedly attacked on media persons in some areas but leaders of all parties have assured full cooperation.
Reports reaching here revealed that protestors comprising around fifty persons appeared in the main Chowk of Bari Brahamna this morning and shouted anti-governor and anti-PDP slogans.
In another development the Bari Brahmna Industrial Association has unanimously decided to extend the Industry closure by 72 hrs in support to Bandh call of SASS. Further it was decided to hold a peaceful rally on 1 st Aug at 11 am starting from Ragunath Mandir chowk. All the Industrialists present were also critical about the discrimination against Jammu and including Industries of Jammu by our State Govt and Govt of India.
Prominent among those who attended the meeting were Rajesh Jain, T.S Reen, Sudershan Sharma, Rakesh Bhat, Sidarth Dogra,Sanjay Mehra, Bansilal Gupta , Annil Gupta, Deepak dawan ,Pradeep vaid and others |
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