People’s assembly demands statehood for Jammu Pradesh

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 22: In the  people’s assembly of  Jammu region  held here today, the representatives of several political parties and civil society participated  made a pledge to uphold sovereignty, unity and integrity of India vis-a-via J&K besides continuing battle against all forms of injustice, discrimination and militancy.
Assembly was convened by NPP patron and former legislator Prof Bhim Singh while former MP and veteran Congress leader Dharam Pal Sharma,  presided over. Dharam Pal Sharma congratulated Prof Bhim Singh for holding such  an assembly which he said is the need of today to ensure the delivery of justice to all regions of the State.
Mohan Singh, a noted Dogri poet and president of Duggar Pradesh Party conducted the proceedings and welcomed such assemblies of the civil society where politicians and social activists could express their views without any hesitation.
Prof Singh in his introductory speech presented, ‘what he call the Magna-Carta’ of Jammu Pradesh with 24-point agenda which include reorganization of the State, amendment in Article 370, eradication of Article 35-A from the Indian Constitution, holding delimitation of the Assembly constituencies in J&K, comprehensive settlement with restoration of civil rights to all 15 lakhs of Pak and PoK refugees languishing in Jammu for the past over 67 years or so and removal of all forms of discrimination with the people of Jammu region. His 24- point agenda was welcomed by the assembly, which sought statehood for Jammu Pradesh to end kind of colonial rule in the State.
The consensus of the people’s assembly of Jammu region expressed total commitment to the cause of the people of Jammu and appreciations for the leadership of the Panthers Party in keeping the battle for the cause of Jammu Pradesh alive and continuing.  There was total disappointment about the performance of the BJP-PDP Government as the Assembly felt   the Government had failed on all fronts  and has no right to continue.
Prominent among those who addressed the assembly included  Maj Gen (Retd) Jagdish Singh Jamwal,  Maj Gen (Retd) BN Dhar, former Minister and president Dogra Sadar Sabha Gulchain Singh Charak, Chairman of NPP and former Minister  Harshdev Singh, senior BJP leader and former Head of History department of Jammu University Prof Hari Om, Balwant Singh Mankotia State president of JKNPP and Ex-MLA,  Yashpal Kundal State president Young Panthers and Ex-MLA,  PK Ganju, vice president of NPP, Anita Thakur and HC Jalmeria general secretaries, Syed Qazmi,  Udey Chand chairman Duggar Pradesh Party, Ashfaq Rana- Sarpanch, Dr PS Pathania former Registrar Central University of Jammu, Jagdev Singh Secy NPP,   Paramjit Singh Marshal State president PTU, HC Katoch, Manju Singh Member Working Committee of NPP, Kousar Parveen and Kesar Parveen  Secretaries Women wing NPP and others.