The Dogra Sadar Sabha (DSS) held a hurriedly called meeting of its executive body on today the 20th of June 2018 under the chairmanship of its President Sh. Gulchain Singh Charak Former Minister, and welcomed the decision to impose the Governor’s rule in the State. The members decried the non-governance and mayhem that prevailed in J&K with situation that was getting bad to worse by each passing day. Utter lawlessness prevailed in the whole state in general and Kashmir region in particular with agonizing humiliation to parliamentary forces and unfair protection and support to anti-national elements. The discrimination to Jammu region was rampant, blatant as also avoidable losses of lives of the troops from these regions and other states deployed for Internal Security duties.
The long drawn strike of Patwaris and Girdawars has paralyzed all ground level revenue matters making it impossible to provide compensation to the enormously mounting losses of cattle, crops, agricultural equipment and human lives due to Pakistan’s cross IB/LoC firing. The ‘K’ centric State government had remained insensitive to the problems of these victims, SSA teachers and the Aanganwari workers, ironically employed for welfare and pre-post natal care of women and new born children.
Jammu has remained a nationalist, secular region in which Dogras from all ethical groups made enormous sacrifices in the service of the nation and peaceful and amicable inter communal brotherhood. There have been deliberate efforts to obliterate the history and heritage of Dogra region. The heritage complex of Mubarak Mandi is in shambles and in spite of government decisions the restoration work has been slow peddled and allocated funds surrendered. The archives, Dogra art museum inaugurated in 1991 are in a pathetic state where priceless paintings worth crores are left to parish in fungus, moisture and weather beatings. Th. Gulchain Singh Charak demanded to constitute a committee of experts to identify for takeing strict action against those responsible for the irreparable damage to these priceless valuables dumped in the almirahs without taking proper care. DSS members pointed out that the onset of next monsoons may play havoc to multiply the damage.
The museum is squeezed in a much smaller place that permits display of only 20 percent of its precious possessions. It was recommended to make the erstwhile Army Headquarters building also available to extend and accommodate the Museum. Some 4,400 bags (Bastas) containing about 35,000 files have been shifted to unsuitable accommodation in the Kala Kendra building where these are exposed to atmospheric and traffic pollution, seepage and moisture. The papers are peeling off and withering away and getting lost for all times to come. The DSS called for restoration and preservation of these priceless treasures of the past glory. The DSS demanded reconstitution of the Governing body of Jammu Mubarak Mandi Heritage Society under the Governor incorporating preservation technicians, historians and prominent local Dogra personalities dedicated to this cause.
Prominent among those who express their views in the meeting were Prof. N.K. Dogra, P.S. Gupta, Gen. G.S. Jamwal, Brig. M.S. Jamwal, Col Virendra K. Sahi, VrC, Sh. Amanat Ali Shah, Sh. Gambhir Dev Singh Charak, Sh. Janak Khajuria, Dr. Raghubir Singh, Sh. Chhankar Singh, S.S. Sambyal
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