PYC chief among 5 arrested

Police arresting Cong leaders during protest at Shahidi Chowk in Jammu on Saturday. -Excelsior/Rakesh
Police arresting Cong leaders during protest at Shahidi Chowk in Jammu on Saturday. -Excelsior/Rakesh

Cong protests against UT status to Jammu

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 10: Pradesh Youth Congress president, Uday Chib and Pradesh Congress Comm-ittee general secretary Shahnawaz Choudhary were among five Congress leaders arrested by police from Shahidi Chowk area near Congress headquarters here this afternoon.
Reports said the Pradesh Congress and Youth Congress leaders and some party activists after a press conference at party office at around 4.30 pm came out of the office and started protest demonstration against the scrapping of Article 370 and creation of Union Territory by the BJP led Modi Govt. They were shouting slogans against BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
The police and para-military force personnel were already deployed there at the Shahidi Chowk in large number due to recent developments. They swung into action and resorted to light cane –charge on the protesting people. While five leaders were arrested, the other activists were made to disperse to different locations.
Those arrested were identified as PCC general secretary, Shahnawaz Choudhary, PYC president, Uday Bhanu Chib, Ajaz Choudhary- PYC vice president, Ricky Dalmotra – PYC general secretary and BCC Gandhinagar president, Sunny Parihar. They were, however, released during late evening.
Earlier, addressing media persons at party office Shahnawaz and Chib said that people of Jammu were feeling duped again. They said Article 370 is not in the interest of the people of the State and especially those from Jammu region. There is massive unemployment and educated youth of the state would suffer badly for want of jobs. Moreover, the cost of land would go much higher with the inflow of people from outside the State.
They further claimed that identity of the State and Dogras has been lost with the creation of UT. Such a large and important state has been converted into UT. There was no such demand from the Jammu region. People of Jammu had been demanding separate statehood. They alleged that people of Jammu have been feeling cheated again by the BJP. They demanded restoration of statehood for Jammu and Kashmir and restrictions for outsiders for purchase of land by introducing domicile certificate like in Himachal Pradesh.