Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Nov 6: Congress today held strong protest demonstrations in Kathua and Hiranagar towns over the issues of implementation of ‘One Rank One Pension’ (OROP) in favour of ex-servicemen and the border situation in the State seeking safe shelters and other facilities for the border residents.
The congress leaders and workers including ex-servicemen took out protest march simultaneously in Kathua and Hiranagar towns against the Modi Government for adopting anti democratic attitude in the wake of protests by the ex-servicemen leading to the suicide of Ram Kishan Grewal and inhuman treatment and detention of his family members and AICC vice-president, Rahul Gandhi.
The demonstrators carried play cards denouncing the Modi Government for its failure to fulfill the promises made to the ex-servicemen with regard to OROP and for the ill-treatment to the family of the Grewal who laid down his life for the cause of ex-servicemen which shows the total arrogance and insensitiveness on the part of the Centre Government.
The demonstrators also expressed grave concern over the situation all along the border and expressed solidarity and tributes to the martyrs who laid down their lives for the nation. They expressed concern over the hardships being faced by the border residents and the lack of adequate facilities in the prevailing situation and the failure of the Centre and the State Government to fulfill the promises made to them during elections especially grant of 5 Marla plots in safer areas and bunkers besides extending benefits of reservation on the pattern of LOC residents and special recruitments for the border youth.
The protest demonstrations of today were a part of the series of protests launched all over the districts and border areas in the State. Prominent leaders who lead the protests in Kathua include Dr Manohar Lal Sharma (general secretary, PCC), Subash Gupta (ex-MLC) and Naresh Sharma (district president) while Balbir Singh (ex-MLA), GL Chalotera (ex-MLA) and Pankaj Dogra (PCC media co-ordinator) led the march in Hiranagar.
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