ESTD: 1904
DOGRA SADAR SABHA J&K
DOGRA HALL, JAMMU
PH.:0191-2543589, E-mail: dograsadarsabha1904@gmail.com
Ref. No DSS :- ———–/23 Date: – 02.09.2023
Press Release
DSS Convenes Emergency Meeting on Jammu’s Burning Issues
Jammu:- An emergency meeting of the prominent leaders of various social and political
organisations of Jammu division was convened by the former cabinet minister and president of
Dogra Sadar Sabha, Jammu and Kashmir, Th. Gulchain Singh Charak, here today in the
conference hall of the Sabha. Sheikh Abdur Rehman Ex M.P, Ratan Lal Gupta Provincial
President NC, Naresh Gupta former MLC, Col. (Ret.) Karan Singh Jamwal VP DSS, and scores of
others attended the meeting to discuss current burning issues of Jammu region including the
illegally functioning Toll Palaza at Sarore and harsh treatment meted out to the agitating youth,
protesting against the Toll Plaza, by the administration headed by Lt. Governor Shri Manoj
Sinha.
In a strongly worded resolution which was overwhelmingly adopted by the house, the non –
considerate attitude of the government was severely condemned and it was demanded that
the Toll Plaza should be immediately abolished and collection of toll tax stopped forthwith, as
even the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways of India, Shri Nitin Gadkari and the
LG of J&K UT Shri Manoj Sinha had assured that Toll Plazas established within a distance of 60
km. were illegal and shall be abolished. Participants said that it was astonishing that the
distance between Sarore and Ban Toll Plazas was merely 45 km., but both were functional
despite of the assurances and even as the road near Sarore was completely damaged and non-
functional.
Speakers condemned the non-considerate and dictatorial attitude of the authorities, there
were reports of some fasting youth having been hospitalized. The resolution said that if any
harm occurs to these people, the entire responsibility for the consequences shall lie with the
government and said that the Toll Plaza should be abolished immediately without any further
delay.
In another resolution passed during the meeting, callous and unmindful installation of
electricity Smart Meters was strongly condemned and demand was made to put a halt to this
whole exercise which had infuriated the people.
The casual attitude of the government towards protection of Dogra heritage, monuments,
environment and ecology was also strongly condemned and it was demanded that the reported
move of shifting historical documents, archives and about 8 lakh files from Mubarak Mandi
heritage complex to any outside place should be abandoned and no palace should be converted
into hotel in any case as these unethical steps will render this historical place worthless.
In another resolution, the participants demanded that the pristine Ranbir Canal must be
declared a state heritage and developed on the pattern of Sabarmati River Front with solar
paneling to ensure its proper upkeep and maintenance, enhancing utility and making this
lifeline of Jammu attractive for tourists
It was also resolved that senseless widening and unscientific alignment on the national highway
in Ramban and Doda districts by the concerned agencies was creating Joshimath like conditions
and making the area more landslide and erosion prone. It was stated that about 300 houses
were damaged in the process and the people were forced to shift to rented accommodation,
but the government was not paying them the much needed compensation. It was resolved that
government must address these genuine grievances of the people on priority.
The participants claimed that there was a widening communication gap between the
government and the people in the absence of the duly elected legislature. This was leading to
piling up of grievances and therefore, the Lt. Governor was asked to involve Civil Society in
regular consultations. He was asked to not take unilateral decisions without taking note of the
people’s problems at the grass root level.
It was regretted that the government was not taking local population into confidence and relied
heavily upon the bureaucracy which was mostly non-local and not connected with people.
It was demanded that Statehood must be restored and elections held for the Jammu and
Kashmir legislative assembly immediately. In the meanwhile, the Lt. Governor must appoint an
advisory committee with due representation to experienced persons of integrity from the both,
Jammu and Kashmir regions, as an interim arrangement.
The participants appealed to the people to remain peaceful in every case and maintain
brotherhood during their struggle for genuine rights.
It was also decided to constitute an Action Committee of prominent leaders to decide future
course of action.
In the end all the participants in the meeting complimented the ISRO Scientists and associated
staff for being the first in the world to succeed in the Lunar Mission by achieving successful
landing of ‘Vikram Lander’ and operationalisation of ‘Pargyan Rover’ of Chandrayaan 3 Mission
on the south pole of the dark side of Moon’s surface.
Other prominent personalities among the participants who expressed their views included S/
Shree I D Khajuria Convener IDP, Prem Sagar Gupta General Secretary DSS, Gambir Dev Singh
Charak I/C Youth Wing DSS, Amanat Ali Shah Joint Secretary DSS, Manish Sahni Presidernt Shiv
Sena (UBT), Sanjeev Kholi Vice President Shiv Sena, Sohit Sharma Distt President PDP, Ashwani
Pardhan CPI, S. Narinder Singh Khalsa Akali Dal A, Mir Shahid Saleem of United Peace, Com.
Sukhdev Singh DBYC, Quadar Hussain , Amrik Singh Member CWE, Anil Chopra IPTA, Hardeep
Singh President IPTA, Shiv Charan Singh Sambyal President DSS Samba, Rakesh Sambyal
President Sambyal Bradari, Davinder Slathia DSS
Secretary DSS
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