Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 30: In a meeting of the executive body of the Dogra Sadar Sabha, the members raised alarm over the neglect of issues concerning Jammu region and appealed the Government to take positive action in this regard.
Talking to media persons after the meeting, president of Dogra Sadar Sabha and former Minister Gulchain Singh Charak said that the Sabha executive strongly opposed the UT Government’s plans to convert the historic “Rani Charaki Palace” into a hotel, citing local sentiments and the rules governing protected monuments. “Any conversion requiring structural changes would compromise the palace’s antiquity and historical significance. Instead, we urge the Government to focus on restoring the monument with the desired pace and precision,” he added.
As the Sabha members also expressed dismay over the decision to shift archives from the Mubarak Mandi complex, Charak urged the Government to reconsider and relocate the archives, along with about 29,000 books from the old library, to a suitably modified building within the complex.
The DSS also lamented the decline of the Jammu Festival, which was initiated by the Sabha to preserve and celebrate Duggar Pradesh’s rich cultural heritage.
According to Charak, the Sabha reiterated its demand for the establishment of a Duggar Satellite Channel in Jammu to promote Dogra culture, language, and traditions. Such a channel, he argued, is essential for preserving the identity of Duggar Pradesh in an era of globalization and for providing a platform for the region’s artists, writers, and cultural ambassadors to reach wider audiences.
The DSS members urged the local leaders across party lines to prioritize the region’s aspirations and unite in support of the community’s concerns including the restoration of statehood.
Prominent participants in the DSS deliberations included Col Karan Singh, G A Khwaja, Brig M S Jamwal , Col Dr Virendra K Sahi, Gambhir Dev Singh Charak, Amanat Ali Shah, Abdul Majid, Adv H A Siddiqui, Adv H C Jalmaria, Jagdeep Singh, Narinder Singh Jamwal, Chhankar Singh, Ravi Singh, Rajeev Kumar and others.
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