Jammu, December 6 (Scoop News) –Jammu Province People’s Forum has hailed the support extended by Congress Minister for Health and Floriculture, Sham Lal Sharma to the demand for separate state of Jammu and union territory status for Ladakh.
A meeting of the forum held here today under the chairmanship of its president Thakur Pavitar Singh, ex-session Judge observed the observations made by Sham Lal Sharma at Bani in Kathua district are the outburst of pent up emotions and suppressed feelings of the people of Jammu against continuous discrimination against them in all the fields and domination of Kashmir centric ruling politicians over Jammu and Ladakh.
The meeting which was attended among others by Sunil Sethi President Bar Association Jammu, Thakur Narayan Singh President Rajput Sabha, Inderjeet Khajuria President Hotels and Lodges Association, Yog Pal Gupta President Federation of Commerce and Industry, S.Gajan Singh President Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee and M.L Gupta, Kuldeep Luthra of Shiv Sena (Bal Thakre) has said that the people of Jammu at large will support and follow any leader irrespective of his party affiliation who comes forward to give the lead to the movement which aims at getting Jammu rid of the perpetual domination of Kashmir centric politicians and giving the region its due place in the country. By harping on the tune of greater autonomy to the state and self rule the Kashmir centric parties are blatantly ignoring the sentiments of Jammu People, who are for National Integration and want J&K State to be as much integral part of the country as any other state.
The forum record that in 2000, when National Conference had first passed the resolution for greater autonomy in the State legislature, the demand for separate Jammu had got great impetus and was raised from all quarters of Jammu. The forum has asked the Kashmiri ruling dispensation and Kashmir central ruling party to stop ignoring the sentiments of Jammu people and letting them to be exploited by Kashmiri politicians.
The forum has also welcomed an allied development, with two members of the state Finance Commission giving a dissenting note in the report, demanding separate regional development and planning boards and separate allocation of planned and non-planned funds to three regions of the state. The disclosure by them that Jammu and Ladakh are being allocated only nominal funds for development of projects in the region, while Kashmir valley was getting the line’s share are eye opener for all and pave the way for the need for separate Jammu State.
The forum has asked the Congress, which has major stake in Jammu to extend full support to Sham Lal Sharma’s demand and identify themselves with the aspirations of Jammu people.