EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Oct 18: United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has welcomed the statement of Union Home Minister on restoration of statehood to Jammu and Kashmir.
In a statement issued here today, Rajiv Mahajan, Convenor UDA, termed it as a welcome step but the Home Minister should clarify that when the statehood would be restored.
Mahajan expressed resentment against the arbitrary decision of Centre Government to bifurcate and down grade the erstwhile Dogra State into the Union Territory while totally abrogating the special status enjoyed by the J&K State since Maharaja’s rule.
He asked the BJP government at the Centre that why were the people of J&K deprived of the UT’s benefits.
“Jammu region has always extended full support to each and every decision of Union government for honour and integrity of nation but the discriminatory and step-motherly treatment shall not be acceptable at any cost.
To end the 70 years of discrimination with the nationalist people of Jammu region, Mahajan urged the Union Government to announce separate statehood for Jammu division.
“Nationalist people of Jammu, who are always ready to sacrifice for the defense of the country and the state but they are being forced to hit the streets for their rights. The administration should restrain from playing with the feelings of Jammu youth by barring separate statehood for Jammu,” Mahajan said.
“The people of Jammu region gave the BJP party’s two MPs and 25 MLAs with full majority/support to end the injustice done to Jammu for the last 70 years. But unfortunately they had deprived people of Jammu,” he said.
“The Union Government must work and take initiatives to end the injustice with patriotic youth of Jammu by giving UT status to Kashmir division and a separate statehood to Jammu division,” Mahajan appealed.
The signatories to the statement included Manish Sahni Former Convenor, Pradeep Singh Mehta Principal Advisor, IG (Retd.) Sudhir Dogra General Secretary, Co- Conveners Col. (Retd.) S.S Pathania, Com. (Retd.) Bhushan Devan, Col. (Retd.) PS Jamwal, Col. J.P Singh, (Retd. DC) Vijay Sharma, (Retd. DC) M. L. Sharma, Er. V.K. Gupta (Retd. SE), R.K Khajuria (Retd. ETO), Varinder Gupta (Retd. Special Secretary), R.C Puri (Retd. K.A.S), Krishan Manhas, Satish Ponshi, Kulbir Singh Slathia, Bharat Bhushan Gupta, Gajan Singh Khajuria, Rajinder Gupta, Rajeev Luthra, Prem Sharma, Vivek Wazir, Rakesh Badyal, Pawan Gupta, Sanjay Jandyal, Varnider Singh Billawria, Yash Khajuria, Jaswinder Singh (Kuku), Sanjeev Sharma, Dr. Karan Gupta, Shiv Kumar Sharma, Rajinder Gupta (Bittu), Ravi Tikku, Rakesh Slathiya, Sushil Singh Jamwal (Retd. General Manager J K Cement), Shashi Bhushan Sharma (Contractor), Sheikh Sajjaad Poonchi (Retd. Principal), Sushil Singh Charak and Tanish Sharma. |
