Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 12: On the expiry of their 72 hour bandh call in protest against the communal violence that broke out in Kishtwar on August 9, this evening, the BJP and Chamber of Commerce and Industries did not extend it further after the Government accepted the demands in all parties and prominent citizens meeting held with Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah here, today.
However, VHP and National Panthers Party (NPP) have extended the bandh call by next 24 hours in protest against what they called the failure of Government in giving a written assurance on loss assessment of traders and business community during August 9 violence in Kishtwar on individual basis.
BJP will not extend the bandh call as all organizations which supported the bandh were of the view that the Government in principle has agreed the main three demands put forth by them, Party State president, Jugal Kishore Sharma told Excelsior later.
He said out of the three main demands, the MoS Home, Sajjad Kitchloo has tendered his resignation while the two other demands including ordering of judicial probe and compensation to traders affected in the violence have been in principle agreed by the Government during today’s meeting so all organizations including traders, transporters, Rajput Sabha and Bar were of the view that there was no logic in continuance of the bandh.
He said the Chief Minister during the meeting has however agreed to issue a press statement regarding assessment of loss of traders for compensation on individual basis and the same was not carried in the official statement later. “ The leaders of all organizations will sit tomorrow in case a written statement is not issued by the Government till that time and we will adopt the future strategy.”, “But we have not extended the bandh call as the 72 hour call given by us has ended”, he added.
He however said that the VHP has extended the bandh call for 24 more hours and BJP will support it but the Party’s bandh call is over.
The National Executive Member of the Party and its chief spokesperson of the State, Dr Jitendra Singh said that among the three main demands, two have been agreed but there has been no written assurance from the Government on the third demand pertaining to compensation for the losses suffered by traders in Kishtwar during the violence.
He said BJP demanded that the compensation be given to traders after assessing the individual losses and till something in writing does not come from Government the struggle will continue.
Meanwhile, the VHP state president, Dr Rama Kant Dubey while justifying the extension of bandh call by 24 hours more, alleged that various other demands like the culprits who indulged in loot and arson at Kishtwar on August 9 are still at large and no assurance has been given on assessment of the loss on individual basis, there is no logic in withdrawal of bandh call. The situation is still grave in Kishtwar and attacks continue there, he added.
Dr Dubey said no written assurance has been given on the compensation to be paid after assessing the individual losses hence the VHP has decided to extend the bandh for 24 hours more.
Dr Dubey, while making a dig at the all party meet said they have no mandate to withdraw the bandh call as the people are being harassed and beaten by the police after entering into their houses.
“The youth in the length and breadth of Jammu city and its outskirts are being beaten and harassed by the police which enters their houses forcibly and drags them out”. The administration is terrorizing the people and this can’t be tolerated, he added.
He said when VHP leaders tried to find the cause of this highhandedness of police and administration and they were told by the leaders of coalition that civil society and prominent citizens have agreed to arrest the youth and the administration took the action on the behest of prominent citizens.
The VHP has taken serious note of the same and it will not tolerate the highhandedness of the Government. Earlier VHP leader, Leela Karan Sharma Dr Sham and others at a press conference also announced extension of bandh call by 24 hours and demanded dismissal of State Government and imposition of Governor’s rule in the State.
The Panthers Party leader and MLA, Balwant Singh Mankotia said that his Party has also extended the bandh call for next 24 hours till the demands are settled.
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