Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 26: Billawar Zila Andolan (BZA) today held a protest dharna in front of the tehsil headquarter Billawar in support of its demand for the creation of Billawar as a separate District.
Led by its convener, Advocate Hari Chand Jalmeria, many prominent persons of the area including retired bureaucrats, educationists, lawyers, businessmen, Sarpanchs and farmers joined the day long dharna.
They demanded immediate creation of Billawar District for the area covered under Billawar, Basohli and Bani tehsils.
Speaking on the occasion, Jalmeria strongly criticized the State Government for ignoring the genuine demand of the people of Billawar, Bani and Basohli tehsils for having separate district. This area having dimension of 200 x 150 kms and rich potential in tourism, forests, animal husbandry, water resources, human resources, was ignored in 2006 when 8 districts were added to the list of 14 districts of the State by the Azad led Government.
Replying to a question in the Assembly, the present Chief Minister Omar Abdullah further added salt to the injury of the people of this area when he stated that no more districts would be created by the Government in the State, Jalmeria said, adding this discrimination shall not be tolerated any more by the people of this area. He also expressed anguish over the silence maintained by the representatives of this area in the Assembly.
Among others who spoke on the occasion includes BR Upadhiya, Bansi Lal Gupta, Sudesh Sapolia, Sadanand Sharma, Ram Dhan, Hari Chand Miyan and ML Verma.
The leaders of the Andolan also submitted a memorandum in this regard to the Chief Minister through Sub Divisional Magistrate Billawar.
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