Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 21: People from Kandi and border areas of Kathua, Hiranagar, R.S Pura and Akhnoor, held a protest dharna outside Raj Bhawan today in protest against the discriminatory policies of State and Central Governments towards people living on international border under the leadership of BJP senior leader Th Ranjit Singh.
Th Ranjit Singh, while addressing listed the problems of the Kandi and border people and said that they have been subjected to total neglect and discrimination for the last over 60 years.
He said the Government has given RBA status to the people residing along LoC while the people living along the borders face same problems but they have been deprived of the same. He said that the agricultural land acquired by Army for different purposes has not been compensated till date, while the facility of Dogra certificate too has been snatched by pro Kashmir Governments and need to be revived soon. He also objected to the different qualifications for different regions for the same jobs and warned to accelerate the movement if the Government does not end this discriminatory attitude.
Leader of Legislative Party and MLA Ashok Khajuria accused the Government of compelling the people to resort to agitation as it has failed to settle their genuine problems.
National Executive Member, Shamsher Singh Manhas said that the people of Jammu, including the helpless farmers residing along borders have been treated as slaves by the successive State Governments since independence and this will not be tolerated in future.
Dr Jitendra Singh, BJP State Chief Spokesperson, said that the Dogra Certificate mooted by erstwhile Maharaja was inspired by the idea that the youth hailing from “Kandi” belt were physically more optimally built to serve the army and therefore by generalising the Dogra Certificate eligibility for political considerations, the present Government is not only guilty of regional discrimination but is also doing disservice to the Indian Army by defeating its very concept.
State General Secretary Rajiv Jasrotia also addressed the protest.
Later, a memorandum containing the grievances of the Kandi and border people was forwarded to the State Governor.
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