Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 1: Rich tributes were paid to the martyrs of reservation agitation by Congress and All India Confederation of SC/ST/OBC Organisations, here today.
Former minister and PCC general secretary Manjit Singh besides others today paid homage to the martyrs of agitation in support of reservation for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe category people.
A function was organized in Vijaypur constituency where large number of people especially Congress workers assembled to hold a monthly meeting of the Congress party and discuss various issues pertaining to the society, while tributes were paid to those who fought for the rights of downtrodden and got reservation for the SC/ST categories in the State during early 1970s.
Speaking on the occasion, former minister Manjit Singh remembered martyrs of agitation especially Bhagat Amarnath, then block president of Congress party who led the movement for reservation along with Babu Parmanand, Babu Munshi Ram, Masha Nar Singh, Bhagat Chhaju Ram and others.
Among others present were Tirath Bhagat, Col Swaran Singh, Inderpaul Singh, Bharat Bushan, Surinder Sharma, Sham Lal Bhagat, Nath Ram, Capt Joginder Singh,Dr BR Choudhary, Ex- Sarpanch Gurjit Singh and Capt. Mohan Lal Sharma.
Meanwhile, people gathered at Bishnah and paid tribute to Shaheed Bhagat Amarnath, the son of soil, who was born on 1928 at village Champa Batote in District Ramban in a scheduled caste family.
While addressing the gathering, RK Kalsotra, State President of the Confederation, who was the chief guest, informed about the life of Amarnath and his contribution for the upliftment and emancipation of the depressed classes.
During fast unto death on May 21, 1970 in Karan park in front of civil secretariat, Amarnath achieved martyrdom on June 1 1970 and became “Martyr of Reservation”. With his supreme sacrifice the reservation was implemented and in this way he wrote the chapter of reservation with his sacrifice, Kalsotra added.
Among others who spoke were Retd Deputy Commission JL Bhagat, Daya Ram, Advocate Anil Pangotra, Sarpanch Rajesh Kumar, Principal Roop Lal, Dr Ajeet Bajala, Piar Bhagat, Babu Ram, Vijay Kumar, Sunil Chakaria and Mahant Ram Puri.
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