Mir, Bhalla among scores of Cong activists arrested
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 15: Police today resorted to mild lathicharge and took scores of Congress leaders and workers led by JKPCC president GA Mir into custody after minor scuffle on Residency Road, when they were marching towards Raj Bhawan from Congress headquarters Saheedi Chowk, Jammu.
The PCC chief, Ghulam Ahmad Mir and others senior leaders broke the police barricades and the enthusiastic Congress workers broke the Police cordon at several places enroute and forced their march ahead. However, they were not allowed to move and then packed in vehicles and took them to DPL, Gandhi Nagar.
Carrying placards and banners, raising strong slogans, a massive protest demonstration, as part of the nationwide programme of Indian National Congress-“Kissan Adhikar Diwas” in support of the agitating farmers ,seeking repeal of three black laws besides roll back of unprecedented hike of petrol and diesel prices, the hundred of Congress worker’s led by leaders of PCC, Mahila Congress, Youth Congress, Seva Dal and other frontal wings, including former ministers, former legislators and corporators, took out a march from the party office today morning towards Raj Bhawan via Residency Road. Mir and Raman Bhalla later mounted on a horse cart.
Prominent among them include Former ministers Mula Ram,Raman Bhalla, RS Chib, Ravinder Sharma, Yogesh Sawhney, Balwan Singh, Kanta Bhan, Th Manmohan Singh, Rajnish Sharma, Shiv Dev Singh, Ch Gharu Ram, Th Balbir Singh, T S Bajwa, Ch Shah Mohammad, Shabir Ahmed Khan, Krishan Bhagat, Th Hari Singh, Udey Chib, Gurdarshan Singh and others.
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The protesters were forcible stopped by the heavy contingents of police at different places enroute but the protestors forced their march upto near Raghunath Chowk despite heavy resistance.
The police took most of the leaders and prominent activists at Raghunath Chowk and Dennis gate into custody and took them to District Police Gandhi Nagar but several workers including women activists reached upto City Chowk Jammu and halted the traffic and held Dharna.
They were arrested at City Chowk and taken to Police Lines later, they included Corporators Ritu Chowdhury, Vandana Makhnotra, Dr R K Khajuria, Suresh Dogra and Virinder Singh Chib and various others Prominent arrested include Ashwani Puri, Pawan Raina, Shashi Sharma, Pankaj Dogra, Sanjeev Pandit, Sanjeev Sharma ,Col Swarn Singh, Tirth Bhagat, Corporators Bhanu Mahajan, Ch Sobat Ali, Gourav Chopra, Ritu Choudhary, Inderjeet Kour and others.
Earlier, addressing large gathering at the Shaheedi Chowk, outside Congress office Mir lashed out at the Modi led BJP Government for it’s adamant attitude and anti- farmers black laws as the farmers are agitating on the Delhi borders for the last around 50 days. Around 60 farmers have lost lives in the agitation but the Government is trying to tire out the farmers and not Conceeding their genuine demands. The future of 62 crore farmers is in the danger and the Government is playing into the hands of rich industrial houses and capitalists.
Mir referred to the massive hike in the price of petrol and diesel which is highest in last 73 years. He said that Modi Govt has earned more than 19 lakh crores in six years out of tax on petrol and diesel.
He said the crude oil in the international market is at 50 USD per barrel while the rates of fuel are highest while during Dr Manmohan Singh Government it was 110 USD per barrel but rates were lower than today. Seeking roll back of the price hike, he said the Modi Government is charging high excise duty which is 258 percent higher to UPA in petrol and 820 percent higher in diesel, which is totally unreasonable.