 EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, June 22: Reiterating the demand to make Jammu region as a separate state, today youngsters, students, social activists besides common citizens of Jammu division staged a massive protest here today near the statue of Maharaja Hari Singh along Tawi bridge. The protest was led by former MLA Balwant Singh Mankotia, in which various non-political organizations, intellectuals, youth and students participated enthusiastically.
Earlier they paid floral tribute on the statue of Maharaja Hari Singh. While addressing the media persons Mankotia said that this demonstration is not of any particular organization but of the common citizens of Jammu division whose main demand is to give separate statehood to Jammu division.
Mankotia said that the motive behind staging the protest is to highlight the demand and convey the message to All party meet called by PM Narendra Modi on 24 June. He said that the patriotic people of Jammu region have always been ignored in terms of political progress since India's independence and equal share in employment, for which Kashmir Based leaders were responsible, now the time has come to give Separate statehood to Jammu to end discrimination & the demand has been raised from many decades. Mankotia said that if needed, the people of Jammu division will launch a big movement for separate statehood for Jammu province in a constructive and positive manner.
“We sincerely hope that the Central Government, respecting the sentiments of the people of Jammu, will resolve our genuine long demand by giving separate statehood status to the Jammu province, '' he added.
On the occasion, Rafiq Chandel, Sham Ghorka, Mahendra Pal Singh Pandu, Satveer Singh Manhas, Councilor Samnik Bhasin, Mohammad Mirza, Sarpanch Vikram Singh, Pratap Singh, Sanjeev Kumar, Anil Rakhwal, besides Panchs, Sarpanchs and Councilors from different districts were also present. |
