Poonch/Jammu,August 22 (Scoop News) – Minister for Medical Education, Technical Education and YSS R.S.Chib and Minister for Revenue, Relief & Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla flagged off Chhari Mubarak for Shri Baba Budda Amarnath Ji Temple at Loran Mandi here.
Bashir Ahmad Naz, Vice Chairman, Advisory Board for Gujjar & Bakerwal, Ajaz Ahmad Jan, MLA Poonch and other prominent social and political leaders from Dashnami Akhara Poonch were present on the occasion.
Before flagging off the yatra a huge public satsang was organized under the Chairmanship of Rajguru Mahamandlashwar Swami Vishathma Nand Ji Maharaj, the Chief Mahant of Dashnami Akhara Poonch in which thousands of men, women and youth participated for paying respect to Lord Shiva.
Swami Vishwatama Nand Maharaj Ji while concluding the Satsang appealed to the people for strengthening the secularism and communal harmony among all the sections of the society. He highlighted the history of Shri Baba Budda Amarnath Ji and said that Yatra has a long history in which people from all religions and faiths participate and pray for peace and prosperity of one and all.
R.S.Chib while paying respect to Lord Shiva described Swami Vishwatama Nand Ji Maharaj as a symbol of Hindu, Muslim and Sikh unity in the twin border towns of Rajouri and Poonch. He described the event as a historic and memorable. Chib also conveyed greetings on behalf of the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to Swami Vishwatama Nand Ji Maharaj for promoting brotherhood and harmonious living among the people of hilly region.
The Minister said that Swami Vishwatama Nand Ji Maharaj is not associated with spiritualism but he has contributed a lot in spreading education among the youth of this hilly and backward area. He further said that Swami Vishwatama Nand Ji Maharaj has contributed a lot in promoting communal harmony and mutual brotherhood among Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and other communities.
R.S. Chib said that as a Chairman of District Development Board Poonch he was fully aware of his responsibilities towards the developmental needs of the people of the District.
He said that a Polytechnic College will soon be started at an estimated cost of Rs. 13 Crore at Poonch and State Government has sanctioned Rs. 57.00 lacs for up-coming University Campus at Poonch. An amount of Rs. 1.00 Crore has already been spent in up-grading cremation ground at Poonch. Shri Chib also said that the Sport Stadium at District Poonch alongwith Indoor Stadium is under construction at a very fast speed.
Raman Bhalla, Minister for Revenue, Relief & Rehabilitation also conveyed his greetings to Swami Vishwatama Nand Ji Maharaj and all his followers on this sacred occasion of yatra of Shri Baba Budda Amarnath Ji which is being organized under the blessing of Swami Vishwatama Nand Ji Maharaj. Shri Raman Bhalla described Swami Vishwatama Nand Ji Maharaj a very secular and respected spiritual leader who has played a vital role in promoting brotherhood among all section of the society as a head of Dashnami Akhara Poonch.
Raman Bhalla further said that all those who have suffered damaged during the recent floods will be provide adequate amount of relief and the development of District Poonch has been included in the priority sector of the State.
Bashir Ahmad Naz, Vice Chairman, Advisory Board for Gujjar & Bakarwal said that the people from all sections of the society have been participating in this yatra to pay their respect to Lord Shiva and this event in Poonch has got a great significance.
Ajaz Ahmad Jan, also congratulated Swami Vishwatama Nand Ji Maharaj. He also demanded compensation for the flood affected people in district Poonch. He also spoke about the inadequacy of ration in some of the areas and said that they are not being supplied ration as per the scales laid down by the Government. The others who spoke on the occasion include Manjeet Sharma, President Dashnami Akhara Poonch, Dr. Ramesh Sharma, Ex-Minister, Shri Yash Pal Sharma, Sr. Political figure of Poonch City, S. Gurdev Singh, S.Janak Singh and other senior citizens.
After the yatra was flagged off, a meeting of senior citizens was held under the chairmanship of R.S.Chib in which Raman Bhalla, Minister for Revenue, Relief & Rehabilitation, B.A.Naz, Vice Chairman, Advisory Board for Gujjar & Bakarwal and Ajaz Ahmad Jan, MLA Poonch and many prominent citizens of Poonch participated which included Imam of Jamia Masjid Poonch and S. Narinder Singh, S. Charanjeet Singh Khalsa, Taj Mir, Zaman Shah, Abdul Majid Khan, Mohinder Payasa, Bagh Hussain Rathore.
District Development Commissioner Poonch and SSP Poonch along with other officers also participated in the meeting. R.S.Chib while speaking on the occasion, appreciated the role of Imam of Jamia Masjid Poonch alongwith other Ulemas, leaders of Sikh and Hindu Communities for maintaining peace, tranquility and communal harmony in the district.
Later, the Ministers along with Ajaz Ahmad Jan visited Shri Baba Budda Amarnath Ji Temple at Loran Mandi and Prayed to Lord Shiva for peace, progress and prosperity of the State.
In a meeting at Mandi R.S. Chib and Raman Bhalla announced a relief of Rs. 1.00 lac each to all the three persons who lost their lives in the recent flash floods. Raman Bhalla also announced a sum of Rs. 10,000/- each as relief for sixteen cattle which were swept away in the floods. District Development Commissioner Poonch was directed to disburse the amount to the affected families.