Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 2: Accusing Congress of being responsible for planned and deliberate neglect of Dogra heritage and for humiliation of Maharaja Hari Singh, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has demanded that Congress should render an unconditional apology to the people of Jammu region in general and Dogras in particular.
BJP in a statement issued here, today alleged that both Congress and National Conference (NC) are partners in crime as far as suppression of Dogras and their culture is concerned.
Anti-Dogra approach of NC is no surprise because the party was founded as Muslim Conference with sole agenda of revolting against the Dogra rule and continue to behave like a Kashmir-centric regional party. But the people of Jammu had expected the Congress being a national party to look after their aspirations and interests. However, the people have been not only disappointed but feel betrayed by the Congress for joining hands with NC to humiliate the Dogras, said Balbir Ram Rattan, State spokesperson of the party.
Congress has been in power at the Centre for most of the years since independence and also ruling the State alone or in alliance with NC. Since Congress in J&K is reincarnation of NC, because in 1965 NC merged with Congress and became Indian National Congress, the parties share almost same ideology with respect to Dogras. After the re-emergence of NC in 1973, Congress was part of the Sheikh led Government which caused biggest insult to the Dogra pride by declaring July 13 as a State holiday to be observed as “Martyrs Day” ignoring the sentiments of Dogras and Kashmiri Pandits, stated Balbir.
He said the parties which were responsible for dubbing Mahraja Hari Singh as a despot and responsible for atrocities on Kashmiris are unashamedly demanding a holiday on his birthday to play with the emotions of Dogras, accused Balbir.
It was the NC-Congress combine that denied the Dogra certificate to the youth of Jammu which enabled them to avail the requisite benefits for enrolment in the Army. It is the NC-Congress alliance that vociferously advocates continuation of Article 35 A, which is responsible for enabling social, communal and gender discrimination in the State mostly harming the interests of the Dogras.
Congress can no longer continue to play double game with the Dogras. It cannot afford any more to run with the hare and hunt with the hound. It would need to divorce itself from the anti-Dogra ideologies of Kashmir-centric parties. Congress will have to apologise to the people of Jammu for all the sins it has committed against the Dogras, demanded Balbir Ram Rattan.
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