Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 8: Senior BJP leader from Rajouri, Kuldeep Raj Gupta has demanded that the people who laid down their lives in defending the Rajouri township on November 10, 1947 from Pak invaders be declared as martyrs.
Talking to reporters here today, Mr Gupta said that a large number of patriotic people of the border township laid down their lives while fighting Pak invaders who attacked the town one day advance the Diwali festival in 1947.
He said though entire nation was celebrating the Dewali but it turned a black Diwali for the people of Rajouri.
He said though the people in general and BJP in particular has been demanding that all those inhabitants of Rajouri town who laid down their lives on this fateful day fighting for the unity and integrity of the country be declared as martyrs but the Government has failed to do the same till date.
He said in comparison to that the people who were killed during 1931 riots in Kashmir were declared as martyrs and a gazetted holiday is being observed on that day.
Mr Gupta demanded that they be declared as martyrs, a postal stamp be issued in memory of martyrs of Rajouri and a memorial be constructed on their name in the Rajouri township.
BJP press secretary Balbir Ram was also present in the press conference.