If a Jammu Official does this, he is threatened action under service rules

GREATER KASHMIR 23.08.2008

‘We’re Kashmiris first '
M HYDERI

As sea of people poured to the summer capital’s Eid Gah, locals apart, even the government officials volunteered to provide refreshment mostly beverages to the sea of people who assembled for the congregational Friday prayers and address by the pro-freedom leadership. From supplying drinking water to the refreshment points, to its distribution, various government departments fed the Eid Gah Chalo marchers amid pro-freedom and pro-Islam sloganeering. The march call for which was given the Co-Ordination committee led by the pro-freedom leadership. Various government employee unions have been supporting the consortium. Since morning, the government-owned water tankers were doing rounds of various refreshment points feeding them with potable water while many such refreshment points were hosted by the government department themselves. Sources said GM Dar, Valley’s top official in the Public Health Engineering department had directed the district head to ensure adequate supply of drinking water for the Eid Gah chalo marchers. “Since early morning after completing our routine duty, I have been shuttling between various refreshment points feeding them,” said a PHE driver at a refreshment point few yards away from the Civil Secretariat. On the other hand government units like the Power Development Department, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) department and UEED had hosted the refreshment stalls on way to the Eid Gah where the government officials served the marchers. “We are supporting the co-ordination committee because we are Kashmiris first than officials,” said Muhammad Shafi Dar, the president of Electrical Employees Union which had a stall at Karan Nagar. The CAPD had its stalls near the department’s head office at Shaheeh Gunj while another worked on the Airport road. Citing reasons for supporting the freedom seeking Eid Gah Challo procession, the officials say they can’t stay away from the rest of the society. “Kashmir dispute has reached a turning point and we can’t stay away from it because we’re a part of Kashmir,” argued a senior official. Khurshid Alam, the president of Employees Joint Action Committee, said the government department’s had made the refreshment arrangements in co-ordination with each other. “It was one of the best services ever done,” Alam said while serving refreshment at Eid Gah. The Kashmir University teachers also participated in the march. Sources said the Kashmir University Teachers Association, Kashmir University Research Association and Kashmir University Students had supported the call. Today they marched with people and offered freedom prayer and some even reportedly served refreshments. To mention, while people have been providing refreshments during people’s protests which erupted few weeks ago, the involvement of government official has come new.

When would Govt. wake up

2nd day of court arrest

On the second of the Jail Bharo Andolan, more than 3.5 lakh people majority of them offered themselves for court arrest in all the ten districts of Jammu province. In Jammu city more than 1.3 lakh people courted arrested in 14 police stations followed by 60000 in Jammu rural in 11 police stations. In Kathua more than 50,000 people courted arrested at 13 places. Reports from Udhampur, Reasi and Ramban districts more than 70000 people participated in Jail Bharo Andolan.
Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti today strongly condemned behaviour of Governor N N Vohra on whose directions the State Government has provided VIP treatment to the pro-Pakistan Huriyat Conference and other separatist groups in their march towards office of the Military Observer of the United Nation at Kashmir.
Huriyat leaders, who have been demanding secession from the country, were not only provided VIP treatment by State Government on the directions of Governor N N Vohra but also facilitated their meeting with the UNO observer. It is shocking that with the support of State Government delegation of the Huriyat Conference submitted a memorandum in which secession from India was demanded. We have authentic information that controversial memorandum which was submitted to the UNO was drafted by a Top Bureaucrat of Jammu and Kashmir Government.

Involvement of the Government in the controversial UNO march was clear from the presence of large number of government employees in the procession. Furthermore many government departments render their services during the procession. The PHE Department has arranged water for the precisionists who were leading anti-national march.
N N Vohra, Governor of Jammu and Kashmir has been providing all facilities to the Huriyat leaders in their anti-India campaign at the behest of United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime headed Dr Manmohan Singh. N N Vohra has been appointed as Governor of Jammu and Kashmir after succumbing before the pressure of PDP and other secessionists groups. Sangharsh Samiti reiterates peace cannot be restored in Jammu and Kashmir as long as Mr N N Vohra is at the helm of the affairs.
Shri Amarnath Yatra Sangharsh Samiti took strong exception of reports of attack on a media house at Shastri Nagar. Samiti has authentic information that State Government has assigned the job of attacking media houses to the Special Operation Group (SOG) of Jammu and Kashmir Police. SOG men in civics have been attacking media persons to create confusion. Samiti has appealed to its workers to single out those who have been indulging in such activities to subvert the on-going agitation.
Meanwhile a youth namely Mr Jatinder Kumar son of Dev Raj of village Langarai, R S Pura attempted to make supreme sacrifice for the restoration of land to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board. The Sangharsh Samiti appeals to all activists not to take any such extreme step and reassures that we shall soon be able to achieve our goal.

Jointly addressed by. Dr. Narinder Singh (SpokesPerson), KK Khosa (Sr. Vice President, Kashmiri Pandit Sabha), Retd. Judge Sh.K.K.Proach (member SAYSS), Sh.Tilak Raj Sharma, Advocate (SAYSS)

Dr Narinder Singh
Spokesperson SAYSS

'We didn't anticipate such a reaction from Jammu'

Former Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad says "I believe the people of Jammu saw a gang-up in Kashmir against their religious sentiments. They would not have minded the Hurriyat opposing the land transfer but when parties like the NC and the PDP joined in the protests, the people were shocked, and hence the reaction. Initially, the Jammu agitation was based on religious sentiments, but now it has turned into a regional issue. It's unprecedented and unfortunate."