Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Mar 23: After a lengthy higher level meeting between Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, two BJP Ministers and top brass of the State Administration, the Government today approved the postings of Additional Deputy Commissioners for Nowshera, Kalakote and Sunderbani Sub Divisions of district Rajouri, for which the people of these areas were agitating for over a month.
Highly placed official sources said that the General Administration Department (GAD) under Chief Minister, issued the order this afternoon, following lengthy discussion with the Minister for Health and Medical Education Bali Bhagat, Minister for Industries and Commerce Chander Parkash Ganga, Chief Secretary B B Vyas, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Rohit Kansal, Home Secretary R K Goyal, Divisional Commissioner Jammu Hemant Kumar Sharma and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jammu, SD Singh.
The sources said that weighing several options, the meeting came to the conclusion that all the three Sub Divisions were agitating since long and should be given posts of Additional Deputy Commissioners. The Chief Minister agreed to the proposal after which the GAD issued an order. The Government had already collected the feedback from the JAC members few days back by sending a team of senior officers to all the three Sub Divisional headquarters.
The General Administration Department vide its order No. 499/ 500-GAD of 2018, dated 23-3-2018, issued this evening, thus, upgraded the posts of Sub Divisional Magistrates at Nowshera, Kalakote and Sunderbani as Additional Deputy Commissioners.
“The order further said,The present incumbents holding the posts of SDMs at these places, shall hold the charge of the posts of Additional Deputy Commissioners, Nowshera, Sunderbani and Kalakote, respectively, till regular arrangements are made. The ADC Kotranka will operate as ADC Kotranka only.”
While there was jubilation in Kalakote and Sunderbani towns after the people came to know about the issuance of orders with regard to posting of ADCs there, the people at Nowshera led by JAC intensified their protest and burnt tyres in the middle of the main bazaar and started raising slogans against Government and local legislators. They said their demand was seeking district status and they will continue their agitation and indefinite bandh. They held strong protest for over two hours in the main Bazaar.
Convenor JAC Nowshera and president local Beopar Mandal, Subhash Kapoor, when contacted, said that people of Nowshera were not happy with this development. He said ADCs for Kalakote and Sunderbani is welcome step but Nowshera people were demanding District status for the last 36 days of this agitation. He said Nowshera can not be equated with other Sub Divisions of the district. It deserved district status and has convincing claim. Three district level offices are already functioning here and moreover it is the oldest Sub Division in the area.
He regretted the role of local legislators from PDP and BJP and alleged that they have tried to weaken the claim of Nowshera JAC. Both of them have betrayed the people of Nowshera. He said Nowshera Beopar Mandal has suffered loss worth over Rs 2 crore per day and the Government has not realized this fact during this long agitation and sufferings of the people and traders.
Kapoor further said that tomorrow JAC has organized meeting of all the members including former Sarpanches and prominent persons of all the 36 Panchayats of Nowshera and next course of action will be decided. He said a 15-member team has decided to launch fast unto death strike from tomorrow.
Meanwhile, indefinite bandh and dharna at Nowshera entered 36th day today. The people took out protest march throughout the town during the day and later reached the venue of dharna shouting slogans. Several prominent persons also addressed the gathering and criticized the Government and BJP Ministers. They alleged that school and colleges are almost closed. Offices and banks have turned non-functional but the Government is sleeping over the matter. It was not bothered about the miseries of the people.
Earlier during the day, DC Rajouri Shahid Iqbal and SSP Rajouri Yougal Manhas visited Nowshera town and held talks with JAC members. They asked them to call off agitation as the Government has agreed to post ADC there but the people refused to accept his plea and said that they were demanding District status and nothing less than this.
While at Kalakote the people distributed sweets and also celebrated their win by beating drums late this evening. The JAC Sunderbani also extended gratitude to the Government and said that they were happy as their demand was addressed.
Follow our WhatsApp channel