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| Samiti threatens to pull out of talks | | | Early Times Reporter
Jammu | Aug 25
The keenly awaited fourth and decisive round of dialogue between Governor’s four-member panel and the representative of the Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti (SAYSS) appeared to have entered into a jeopardy late this evening with the Samiti threatening to snap the talks alleging Police excesses in Jammu.
In another development, the Bar Association of Jammu, describing the Governor NN Vohra as mother of all ills, said that the ongoing crisis can not be resolved before the Governor is recalled.
The Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti, spearheading the agitation over the Amarnath land row, today threatened to call off talks with the Governor-appointed panel unless security forces stopped using "excessive force against innocent protesters".
"The Samiti warns that it will reconsider holding talks with the panel if the administration behaves the way it did with innocent protesters in Jammu region today," its convener Leela Karan Sharma told reporters here. He alleged the police and the Rapid Action Force had cane-charged innocent protesters and opened fire at them for staging peaceful rallies in Digiana, Kathua and Gandhi Nagar areas in the city. Police also burst teargas shells to disperse them, the Samiti leader said.
Leela Karan also hinted that the Samiti may seek removal of the Inspector General of Jammu Police and newly appointed SSP Jammu to resume dialogue with the Governor’s panel.
To reinforce his claim that security forces were using excessive force against the agitators, he produced empty teargas shells and a cartridge before mediapersons. "The talks are still on and the government must rein in security forces. It should direct them to stop atrocities on innocent civilians," he said.
Asked whether any consensus had been reached at the talks aimed at resolving the vexed land transfer issue, the Samiti leader said "we are not going into nuances of words. We want restoration of the land to the Amarnath Shrine Board at the earliest."
"At present, our prime concern is the land. Removal of the Governor and discrimination against Jammu are not the main issues," Sharma said. He alleged some vested elements were driving a wedge among Samiti leaders by floating rumours.
To a question, Sharma said "Kashmiri Pandits, who have also faced hardships and suffered atrocities like others, are fully supporting the movement." Slamming the Congress, he said "the Samiti is of the view that the Congress leadership has played with religious sentiments of the people and is responsible for the current turmoil in Jammu."
Sharma alleged the appointment of Vohra as J and K Governor followed by revocation of the land allotment order were a deep-rooted conspiracy hatched by the UPA at the Centre and Ghulam Nabi Azad government in the state.
The Samiti leader accused the National Conference and the People's Democratic Party of maintaining "criminal silence over atrocities on Hindus" in Poonch and Kishtwar districts.
Meanwhile, terming Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra as "mother of all ills", the Bar Association of Jammu today demanded his removal, the withdrawal of cases registered against the youth arrested in the agitation and the restoration of the land to the Amarnath shrine board.
"Apart from restoration of the land to SASB, the samiti panel should also talk about removal of Governor and discrimination against Jammu," BAJ president B S Salathia told reporters here.
"Governor (N N Vohra) is responsible for all ills. He is a bone of contention and people of Jammu do not accept him as governor and they have lost faith in him," Salathia said.
He also demanded that the state government withdraw all cases against youth involved in the agitation and announce compensation for transporters, industrialists, traders and fruit and vegetable growers.
He also blamed the PDP for clashes in Kishtwar between two communities. Salathia demanded the arrest of separatists and leaders of mainstream political parties for pro-Pakistan and anti-India statements in the valley. He also criticised the Congress for its statement that it does not want the removal of Vohra. |
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