Jammu: Drawing the attention of Prime Minister Narendera Modi towards the blatant disregard and ignorance of the burning issues haunting Jammu region both by the Centre and the state govt, Panther activists led by Harsh Dev Singh, Chairman JKNPP staged a vociferous protest demonstration at Exhibition Ground here today. The agitated protesters tying black bands on their forearms as a mark of resentment raised anti- govt slogans and torched the effigy of the BJP.
Strongly condemning the spurt in violence especially on the borders following the declaration of the suspension of combat operations in J&K by the GoI, Harsh Dev Singh urged upon the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to revoke the decision of unilateral ceasefire which had backfired immediately after the said announcement. He said that in the wake of separatists and other terror organizations rejecting the govt’s move, Pakistan opened unprovoked fire and lobbed mortars over 15 Indian posts and civilian areas along the IB in Samba and Kathua districts leading to panic and killings of one BSF soldier, four civilians besides critically injuring more than dozen people. He said that the Pak sponsored militants as well as belligerent neighbour had proved that terrorism had no religion. “Non Initiation of Combat Operations (NICO) had seriously demoralized the Army which might prove counterproductive and provide an opportunity to the terrorists to regroup and plan further death and destruction in the State”, agitated Harsh said.
Drawing the attention of the Prime Minister towards the explosive revulsion and outrage of the people of Jammu Pradesh over Kathua murder case, Harsh Dev Singh sought the personal intervention of the PM for transfer of infamous child homicide case to CBI in view of the collective demand raised by the people, cutting across party lines or social and political affiliations. Lambasting the Saffron leaders for turning the situation from bad to worse, he regretted that not only they toed the PDP line over the issue but accused their own electorates of being communal besides levelling accusations of supporting rapists and criminals. “And all this notwithstanding the unequivocal stand of the people of Jammu for capital punishment to those actually involved in the heinous offence. In view of the strong evidence provided by a national media in favour of the accused and moreover, with the credentials of the two officers constituting SIT being tainted, only central probe could provide justice to the deceased child and restore pride of the agitating people”, Harsh apprised Modi.
Lambasting the State government for being non serious towards the illegal settlement of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis in Jammu province, Singh called for a firm commitment from the PM during his visit for immediate deportation of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis from the ‘City of temples’ who posed a grave threat to security and demography of the region.“With GoM constituted earlier on the directives of GoI turning defunct, the newly proposed commission by the State govt is nowhere in sight. BJP is keeping the Kashmir centric leaders and the separatists in good humour by shelving the most dangerous issue which has been haunting Jammu region for a long time now. The ticking time bombs are involved in drug trafficking, flesh trade, desecration acts and terror attacks”, dismayed Harsh said.
Apprising PM about the growing discrimination against Jammu region which gave BJP all 25 seats, Singh asked PM Modi to provide succour to the unemployed educated youth of the region who have been subjected to the most hostile and differential treatment by the State govt. With merely 6-8% share in employment, the Jammu youth had become the biggest casualty of the BJP-PDP alliance with the recruitment agencies like PSC and SSB doling out the most callous and prejudicial treatment to them which was required to be undone, Harsh divulged. He further called upon the PM to address the pathetic plight of border dwellers with immediate fulfilment of earlier assurances of giving them five marla plots in safer zones besides special recruitment drives for the youth living in forward hamlets. He also sought the settlement of all pending issues of POJK migrants and West Pak Refugees who continued to suffer despite numerous commitments of GOI in the past.