Not finding a resolve or even a positive assurance to their request of not establishing a traffic barrier in front of the Secretariat during winter months, the members of Dogra Sadar Sabha with a large following of agitating population from areas adjoining the secretariat came to the streets and took out a peaceful protest march from DSS Bhawan to Ranvireshwar temple at Shalamar where they sat on a ‘Dharna’. The March was led by the DSS President Th. Gulchain Singh Charak.
The march comprising of local men and women which included some senior citizen who felt that their fundamental right to go for worship to Ranvireshwar and Raghunath temples has been denied since they cannot walk additional three/ four km one way for reaching the temple. Likewise the ladies pointed out that the unique facility of the MH Zanana Park is denied to all those living in the areas of city west of the barrier. The President DSS addressing the gathering said that the concerned authorities stand apprised after projecting the problem through press repeatedly, the DSS has also met the Dy CM Prof Nirmal Singh and submitted a memorandum to him in this regard. He accreted that the today’s peaceful march was a token to give went to their agitated and hurt feelings as an expression to their hardship and misery. He requested the government to discontinue the practice of establishing the barrier with immediate effect failing which their agitation may become more forceful as the already suppressed population of Jammu is not prepared to take such injustices any more.
Th. Gulchain Singh who is also convener of the All Jammu Civil Society, appealed to leaders of all political parties to come forward leaving their party politics aside for getting redressal of the miseries of general public and to save the historical and Architectural importance of Jammu city.
At this juncture a Sub-committee of eleven members was constituted for the furtherance of this issue with the concerned authorities in the Government and political circles as well.
Representation of Trade organisation projected the loss to tourism due to denial of axis to historical Mubarak Mandi on one side, and the Jambu Lochan memorial on the other. This adversely affects the hoteliers and traders in Raghunth Bazar.
Some speakers also complained about the hardships caused to the porters, cart pullers and college & school going students who are forced to use transport and yet reach back late due to traffic congestion and jams. The Speakers, pointed out to the avoidable vehicular traffic pollution that is being caused and is a health hazard to the habitat around. Even daily office goers and people going to various offices in Tehsil or DC’s office complex are forced to take a detour.
After Dharna/protest a memorandum was also sent to the Chief Minister and other concerned authorities for their intervention and an early solution.
Prominent persons who expressed their views on the occasion are S/Sh. Abdul Majid, G. A Khawaja -D.C (Retd.), S Peter, Sr. J.S Mangal, Sr. Hakumat Singh, P.S Gupta, Prof. N.K Dogra, Janak Khajuria, Madan Rangila, Gambhir Dev Singh Charak, J. S. Babli, Parshotam Thapa.,
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