New Delhi, 11-03-2022: Seeking restoration of Statehood to J&K and holding of early Assembly elections, scores of Panther activists led by Mr. Harsh Dev Singh Chairman-JKNPP and former Minister held a vociferous protest demonstration at Jantar-Mantar in New Delhi today. The infuriated protesters raised anti-BJP govt slogans holding it responsible for escalation of militancy in J&K. They tried to march towards Parliament but were stopped by the huge contingents of Police which raised several barricades on the road. The protestors raised anti govt slogans amidst clashes with the police personnel during the course of their demonstration.
Speaking to the media, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh reiterated the demand of restoration of Statehood to J&K and maintained that a legitimate elected govt alone was the panacea to the ills afflicting J&K. He said that on 5th Aug 2019, the BJP led govt at the centre had caused the greatest embitterment in the hearts and minds of the people by denigrating the status of statehood to a Union Territory. Mr. Singh said that it was the only ‘Dogra state’ in the country which was conceptualized and created by our revered rulers and extended with countless sacrifices made by Dogra warriors. He said the past two and a half years witnessed massive public uprisings against the anti people policies of the ruling dispensation besides recurrent episodes of terrorists strikes and violence. “Not only had the incidents of political and civilian killings in J&K increased but the hitherto peaceful areas like Udhampur had also become vulnerable under the present ‘Babu Raj’. The economy was worst impacted and development had come to a standstill. The arrogant and power intoxicated BJP continued to use the coercive apparatus of state to silence all those who dared raise their voice for justice and sought fulfilment of promises made by it during elections. Every sect of the society is suffering. The youth are on the roads, may it be daily wagers of all the departments, Contractual employees, SPOs and Home guards, NHM employees, ASHA/Anganwadi workers, Dental surgeons, Contractual teachers and lecturers, BSF/CISF aspirants, ReK aspirants, NHM employees, Samagra teachers, NYCs, NYVs, MGNREGA labourers, Trained pharmacists, SHG engineers, Terminated employees of Health deptt, etc. The farmers, the border dwellers, the traders including shopkeepers and businessmen all have been bearing the brunt of apathetic and callous attitude of the bureaucracy which is ruling the roost in absence of the popular elected government. It has remained averse to the woes of the people as the officers sitting at the helm of the affairs have no connect with the people”, anguish Harsh said.
Mr. Harsh Dev Singh further stated that with the State earlier remaining under Central Rule for the last over three and a half years, it would be wholly unjustified and unconstitutional to delay and deny elections in J&K. “Even the Supreme Court had ruled that Elections to legislative Assemblies in states, where Assemblies are prematurely dissolved, should be held within a period of six months. Flaying the BJP led NDA and present UT administration for denying the people of J&K their democratic rights, Mr. Singh said that the people were purposely deprived of their right to choose their own representatives and to have an elected govt in the state. He asserted that a democratically elected govt alone was the antidote to extremist violence in J&K.
Prominent among those who participated and spoke on the occasion included Mrs. Manju Singh, Mrs. Sudesh Dogra, Gagan Pratap Singh, Parshotam Parihar, Rajeev Khosla besides others.
