Jammu, March 18 (Scoop News) – Jammu Province People’s Forum(JPPF) today takes serious exception to and assails Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s misleading statement in the State Assembly on March 15, holding the politicians and people of Jammu responsible for inordinate delay in making Central University Jammu functional, by appointing a competent Vice Chancellor for the same.
Addressing a press conference in Jammu, the Chairman JPPF Th. Pavitter Singh and other leaders of the forum stated that neither Jammu Province People’s Forum nor any other political, socio-cultural, trade and student organization of Jammu has ever demanded a person from Jammu city alone or even a Dogra to be appointed as Vice Chancellor of Central University Jammu.
Leaders of JPPF said that all sections of people from Jammu, cutting across party lines, belonging to different communities had only objected to the proposal and latter to the appointment of Prof. Amitabh Mattoo as Vice Chancellor Central University Jammu.
They were insisting on appointment of a person belonging to any community and from any sub-region of Jammu, having competence, qualification and merit to be appointed at the post. There is no dearth of competent academicians of high order belonging to Jammu region, who can fill the slot Th. Pavitter said.
They alleged that the opposition to Prof. Mattoo’s appointment as such was prompted by his male administration, irregularities, partisan attitude, financial irregularities and corrupt practices in the Jammu University during Prof. Mattoo’s six year tenure as VC Jammu University.
Leaders said that it is ironical that the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is unaware of the competence and high caliber of persons from Jammu region in various fields, including in the academic sphere.
JPPF highly appreciate the protests lodged by MLAs from Jammu, cutting across party lines, in the State Assembly against delaying tactics adopted in making the Jammu Central University functional.
They demanded immediate appointment of a competent local person at the post and make the university functional without loss of any more time. Already one academic session has been lost.
JPPF appreciated the Revenue Minister Raman Bhalla’s announcement of conferring Dogra certificates to the people from Jammu, which meets the long pending demand of the people of Jammu.
The leaders also appreciated the exemplary unity displayed by legislators from Jammu region cutting across party lines in raising their voice against discriminations with the region in selection in professional institutes, appointments on government jobs and in development etc. as well as raising a strong voice for settlement of the problems of refugees.
JPPF appeals to all the parties, forums and groups to rise above narrow considerations and join hands to support and advocate the cause of Jammu region.
The other who addressed the Press Conference included Inderjeet Khajuria, President Jammu Hoteliers Association, Narayan Singh President Rajput Sabha, Yash Pal Gupta, President Federation of Commerce and Industries Jammu, VP Sharma, M.L Sharma, Uday Chand of Duggar Pradesh, Kuldeep Luthra of VHP, S.Gajan Singh, President Gurdwara Committee, Virender Jain, Bhatia, Bhagat, Dev Raj Badu, Pawan Gupta, Amrit Mangotra and S. Gajan Singh, a leading transporter.