J&K integral part of India,no power could weaken its bond with India: Shivraj Singh

Whole nation needs to apologise to the Kashmiri Pandits: Sinha

Various organisations supported the Jammu bandh on Monday

Protest demonstration in Leh-Ladakh on Tuesday

Jammu/New Delhi, December 27 (Vijay Kumar) – Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Sunday said that  Jammu and Kashmir was an integral part of India and no power could weaken its bond with the country.

Addressing the annual convention of Panun Kashmir,an organisation of the displaced Kashmiri Pandits who fled Kashmir due to a series of selective killings in 1989-1990, Chouhan slammed the Prime Minister’s Working Group report on centre-state relations vis-à-vis Jammu and Kashmir, describing it as against the “national interest”.He said: “The report runs against the national interest, as it does not take into account the interests of the religious minorities.”

 “We reject this report outright,” Chouhan said, calling for a complete integration of Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of the country. BJP will launch a nationwide campaign against the recommendations of autonomy for Jammu and Kashmir, he said.

He also supported the demand of a separate homeland for Kashmiri Pandits in the Valley.

Speaking at a function of Panun Kashmir,former Jammu and Kashmir Governor S K Sinha while referring to the Kashmiri Pandit community being forced out of their home State by terror groups. said, "The whole nation needs to apologise to the Kashmiri Pandits, because we have not done what we should have done for them,"

The former Governor S K Sinha expressed "total confidence" in the army’s ability to protect Jammu and Kashmir, saying: "No matter what anyone says so long as you have an army like the Indian Army the question of grabbing Kashmir does not arise."

Former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan G Parthasarthy stressed the need for strengthening the internal security system and need for a strong leadership to deal with the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.

"India needs to develop an internal structure that is strong enough and to have a leadership who has the will to inflict damage on ones who want to damage us," Parthasarathy said in his address.

Former BJP leader K Govindacharya said "pro-active diplomacy accompanied with proactive military" would have the desired effect in Jammu and Kashmir.

Meanwhile various organizations have supported the Jammu bandh on December 28, the call for which has been given by Panthers Party in protest against the Working Group report submitted by Justice Sageer Ahmed.

Jammu Bar Association, while supporting the bandh call on December 28 has appealed traders, social and political organisations, industries and commerce to make the bandh a total success.

This was stated in a handout issued by the Association here today. According to vice president of the Assocition Surinder Kour said a request in this regard was received by over 300 members of the Bar. Supporting the bandh call, Jammu West Assembly Movement, chairman, Sunil Dimple said that his organization fully endorses the Jammu bandh call for December 28.

Panun Kashmir chairman, Dr Ajay Chrungoo has also fully endorsed the bandh call. In a statement issued today, Dr Chrungoo said that all the nationalist forces in the State should join hands and protest against the report which is inimical to their interests.He said the PK has already rejected the report in toto.

Shri Ram Sena has also endorsed the Jammu bandh call for December 28. The Sena in a meeting here today held under the chairmanship of Rajiv Mahajan its president has expressed grave resentment against the Working Group recommendations.

I t may be mentioned here that J&K National Panthers Party has called for Jammu bandh on Monday,against the anti-people report of V-Working Group headed by Justice Shageer Ahmed which is biased and deserves to be dumped into the dustbin without any further discussion.
Prof. Bhim Singh Chairman of JKNPP and Member of NIC in a strong appeal to the people particularly the youth and students and the political leadership of all parties has requested them to share the responsibilities for demonstrating the wrath of the people of Jammu and Ladakh in particular to a peaceful bandh on Monday 28th December. He said the people of Jammu have always supported the right cause at all time whenever we sought their support and solidarity against the draconian act of the authoritarian rulers of the state. The Panthers Party Chairman appeal in person the leadership of BJP, Congress, Jammu State Morcha, Left parties and other social groups including Chamber of Commerce, Trade Unions, Bar Associations, Sangarsh Samiti, students and youth organizations and all those who share our view on the fraudulent report of Justice Shageer Ahmed to put their collective efforts to teach and central-State government a lesson forever.

Ladakh Union Territory Front (LUTF) also rejected all recommendations of political nature of the Working Group, termed the report of 5th Working Group on Centre-State relations as biased and discriminatory. Thupstan Chhewang, former Member Parliament and Patron President of LUTF, said, "the report is not acceptable to the people of Ladakh as it does not reflect the will and aspirations of the people of the region".

The members of LUTF working commitee, Executive Councillors and Councillors submitted a copy of the memorandum to Deputy Commissionerm ,Leh addressed to the Chief Minister. In a memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, Thupstan said, said that this report will widen the gap between the three regions of State instead of bringing them together for a consensus for the overall Kashmir solution."This report is a reflection of total non application of mind as the final recommendations as submitted were never deliberated upon in the working group as no meeting has been held for the last more than two years", he further said.

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In memorandum he regretted that "The report fully ignores the sentiments of both the people of Jammu and Ladakh regions and is highly discriminatory in nature, especially ignoring the interests of the minority communities of the State." "we strongly condemn the contents of the report and will agitate if it is accepted by the Government.’he added

It was decided on the occasion that LUTF will hold demonstration on December 29, 2009 at Lal Chowk Leh to express serious concern over the report.

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