Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 2: Congress, Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party and Bar Association members at various districts held protest demonstrations against the BJP leadership over the issue of AIIMS across the region today.
Later Raman Bhalla addressed the gathering and criticised the BJP leaders of Jammu for their total surrender over the issue of AIIMS. He said that BJP has been exposed totally before the people of Jammu and they have no reply for the people of Jammu who gave them their historic mandate. They are even not able to face the Jammu people and staying away from the public gatherings for the last some weeks. They appealed the people of Jammu to conduct the `gherao’ of BJP ministers and MLAs and go for their social boycott.
In Kathua town, the Congress activists led by Manohar Lal, Subash Gupta, Naresh Gupta and others held protest demonstration and burnt the effigy of DyCM Dr Nirmal Singh. They were demanding restoration of AIIMs to Jammu and criticised Jammu BJP leaders/ MLAs for playing dirty politics and misleading people on the issue of AIIMS. They appealed the people to observe complete bandh for next 3 days and get united for the Jammu cause.
Meanwhile, continuing with its protests on the third day of the “Jammu bandh” for the restoration of AIIMS to Jammu, a large number of Panthers Party activists assembled outside the Party headquarters Jammu and marched towards Main Stop, Gandhi Nagar where they were restrained from proceeding further by a heavy police contingent. After a brief scuffle with the police cops they held a massive protest demonstration at main chowk against the BJP’s policy of repression and suppression to forcefully subdue the peaceful agitation launched by the people of Jammu region.
The protest was spearheaded by former Minister Harshdev Singh and Yashpal Kundal, State president Young Panthers while the angry protestors torched the effigy of “26 headed monster”, symbolizing the BJP clan with equal number of MLAs. They raised slogans of- “Jammu Ka AIIMS, Jammu Ko Do”, “Dhokhey Aur Daman Ki Rajniti..Nahin Chalegi …Nahin Chalegi” and “BJP..Hai Hai”. During the protest and the resultant scuffle Mohinder Pal Singh Pandu, Youth leader was injured and rushed to the hospital.
Harshdev lambasted the coalition Government for aggravating and converting the peaceful agitation into a violent civil unrest by trying to sabotage the movement through intimidation on the second and third day of the bandh. He, widely rebuked the unprovoked brutal and barbaric assault by the police authorities on the civilians which on the directions of the District administration resorted to cane- charge and tear gas shelling on the protesting people which included the members of the CC comprising of lawyers, intellectuals and professionals. Harshdev said that such act of intimidation is a brazen infringement of the Constitutional guarantees ensured to the people to hold protest demonstrations which needs to be condemned and opposed by all.
In Udhampur town, hundreds of NPP activists and members of civil society came out on the roads and took out strong rally against the oppressive and repressive measures being adopted by Government on the directions of BJP leadership. Led by former NPP MLA , Balwant Singh Mankotia, the people took out protest and raised slogans against the BJP for its betrayal despite huge public mandate.
The rally started from Salathia Chowk and after passing through various markets and bazaars reached Dhar Road they were stopped by police. The police had also barricades but the agaitators broke the barricades and moved ahead. The police resorted to cane charge and lob tear gas shelling on the protestors. They also burnt the effigy of DyCM Dr Nirmal Singh at Dabbar Chowk. While a local leader Pawan Kumar Sharma was arrested two youth namely Sonu Kumar and Avinash were injured in police action. Mr Mankotia also addressed gathering at Dabbar Chowk besides some other leaders.
Lodging strong protest against attack on peaceful protesters on Saturday and supporting demand for another full-fledged AIIMS in Jammu, National Conference today staged a dharna at Talab Tillo here with workers raising slogans and criticising the Centre and PDP-BJP Government in the State for hoodwinking public on this important issue.
NC District president Jammu Dharamveer Singh Jamwal was leading the protest. He said the National Conference has been steadfast in its stand about a separate AIIMS for Jammu while the party has welcomed and lauded the decision of sanctioning the one for Kashmir. On the contrary, there are contradictions not only between PDP and BJP but within the Sangh Parivar also. “The BJP Ministers and the leaders are speaking differently on this issue”, he wondered.
Mr Jamwal expressed anguish over treatment meted out to the civil society members on Saturday, saying the Government has demonstrated sheer arrogance and frustration by shrinking the democratic space. He termed the police action as muzzling voice and warned the Government to desist from anti-people policies.
Prominent among those who joined the protests included Arshad Choudhary, Provincial president Women Wing Satwant Dogra, Bimla Luthra, Abdul Gani Teli, Surinder Singh Bunty, Vijay Lochan, K D Singh, Ankush Abrol, Rashpal Singh, Ashok Singh, Pinki Bhat and others.
Congress activists led by PCC senior leader Maheshwar Singh Manhas also staged protest demonstration at Bakshi Nagar.
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