 Early Times Report
JAMMU, Dec 17: In a strongly worded statement, Th. Gulchain Singh Charak, President, Dogra Sadar Sabha (DSS) J&K and former Minister, has condemned, what could be termed as 'The sacrilege of Raja Jambulochan Memorial' just under the 'watchful' eyes of adjoining Civil Secretariat, the seat of power of the Union Territory.
Addressing a press conference here today, Charak has said that the Raja Jambulochan Memorial is lying incomplete with the all important replica of goat missing from the site for last several days, but no notice or inscription has been put up by concerned authorities at the venue for general information of the public about why the statue is not there and when it will be reinstalled. Charak informed the press that as a concerned citizen of Jammu, as soon as he had noticed the absence of the statue from the site, the matter was inquired into and then brought to the notice of authorities responsible for its maintenance and upkeep. They informed him that the statue was found damaged and therefore lifted from the Memorial for repairs, but Charak questioned, "Isn't it the duty of the custodians of historical monuments to keep the public informed about any such activity, whenever undertaken by them?" He added, "At the first sight, the absence of statue from the site definitely points towards theft, damage or a sacrilegious act."
Gulchain Singh Charak also criticised the parking of scores of security vehicles around this Memorial as it camouflaged one of the most important display of Jammu's history and identity. Similarly, he alleged that earlier also the replica of the Sword of General Zorawar Singh lay broken at General Zorawar Singh Chowk in Gandhi Nagar area Jammu for several months until he pointed it out to the concerned authorities and got it repaired.
Charak appealed to those who champion the cause of Jammuites, not to remain silent and ignorant about such sacrilegious tendencies towards the symbols that represent identity of Jammu. He made a strong appeal to the government to restore the glory of these memorials immediately.
In the end, pointing towards the deplorable condition of Gandhi Bhawan Complex adjoining Civil Secretariat, Jammu Charak urged upon the administration to take appropriate measures to prevent its misuse for idle parking, etc. to ensure free movement of visitors to this historical Bhawan. Prominent among those who were present on the occasion were Prem Sagar Gupta, Brig MS Jamwal, Gambhir Dev Singh Charak, Chander Mohan Sharma, Janak Khajuria, Balwinder Singh and Kulbir Singh. |
